The Liberec White Tigers have added depth to their blue line with the loan signing of defenseman Marek Baránek from HC VERVA Litvínov.The move, announced today, aims to bolster the team’s defensive capabilities as they navigate the final stretch of the Tipsport Extraliga season, currently sitting third in the standings. Sporting Director Michal Birner emphasized Baránek’s experience and skillset as key factors in bringing him aboard.
Marek Baránek
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Foto: Matyáš Rjabi, hcverva.cz
Liberec has added defenseman Marek Baránek on loan from Litvínov for the remainder of the season, bolstering their defensive lineup as the season progresses.
“We were looking for ways to expand the team as we approach the end of the season, as we want to have sufficient depth in the roster,” explained White Tigers’ Sporting Director Michal Birner.
“Marek is an experienced defenseman with good attributes, capable of physical play and possessing quality passing skills. He knows the role he’s coming into, and we believe he will help us during the most important part of the season,” Birner added.
For the 30-year-old Baránek, Liberec marks his fourth team in the top Czech hockey league. He has previously played for Karlovy Vary, Kladno, and Plzeň, but spent the majority of his career with Litvínov, where he is currently under contract.
“Marek is an experienced defenseman with good attributes, capable of physical play and possessing quality passing skills.”
This season, Baránek has played in 26 games for Verva Litvínov, recording three points with one goal and two assists. Throughout his career in the top Czech league, he has appeared in a total of 405 games, accumulating 86 points (16 goals and 70 assists). Adding experienced players mid-season is a common strategy for teams aiming for a strong finish.
Liberec White Tigers Roster
Goaltenders:
Petr Hamalčík, Petr Kváča, Štěpán Lukeš.
Defensemen:
Layton Ahac, Marek Baránek, Tomáš Galvas, Tomáš Hanousek, Michal Ivan, Lukáš Kachlíř, Vojtěch Pilíšek, Radim Šimek, Denis Zeman, Kristaps Zile.
Forwards:
Martin Faško-Rudáš, Tomáš Filippi, Jakub Hujer, Filip Jansa, Radan Lenc, Adam Musil, Adam Najman, Jaromír Pérez, Servác Petrovský, Jaromír Pytlík, Filip Sandberg, Jaroslav Vlach, Jasper Weatherby, Marek Zachar.
Tipsport Extraliga Standings
| TEAM | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF-GA | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |
HC Dynamo Pardubice |
47 | 24 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 149:106 | 89 |
| 2. | HC Energie Karlovy Vary | 47 | 22 |
6 |
4 | 15 | 128:117 | 82 |
| 3. | Liberec White Tigers |
47 |
23 | 2 | 8 | 14 | 129:108 | 81 |
| 4. | HC Škoda Plzeň | 46 |
20 |
5 | 8 | 13 | 126:96 | 78 |
| 5. |
HC Oceláři Třinec |
47 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 17 |
136:120 |
78 |
| 6. | Mountfield HK | 47 |
20 |
8 | 2 | 17 | 124:110 | 78 |
| 7. | HC Sparta Praha | 44 | 19 | 5 |
4 |
16 | 138:114 | 71 |
| 8. |
HC Kometa Brno |
47 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 19 |
125:133 |
69 |
| 9. |
HC VÍTKOVICE RIDERA |
47 | 17 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 122:142 |
64 |
| 10. | Banes Motor České Budějovice |
46 |
16 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 123:131 | 63 |
| 11. |
HC Olomouc |
47 | 18 | 3 | 2 |
24 |
110:138 |
62 |
| 12. |
Rytíři Kladno |
47 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 21 | 114:123 | 61 |
| 13. | BK Mladá Boleslav | 46 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 92:122 | 59 |
| 14. |
HC VERVA Litvínov |
47 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 100:156 | 43 |
