On the ice surface of the Arena Sršňov, 520 young athletes train in the Košice hockey club Sršne. The hockey club was founded in 2016 by the civic association HK Sršne Košice. In 2025, it was OZ that succeeded in the Together for the Region grant program, which we have been helping eastern Slovakia with for almost two decades. For the project called the Training Ground, Easy on the Battlefield! received 3,000 euros.

Training of hockey players is not only about hard physical preparation and effort to be in the best possible condition, but also about the right technique, thanks to which the player can gain an advantage. A special part of the training is the so-called stickhandling, i.e. handling the stick (stick and handling). The procurement of practical training aids for such training was part of the project. Marek Mergleský from HK Sršne Košice (second from the left in the photo) talks about their advantages:

"Stickhandling training aids are an effective and modern way to help our young hockey players systematically improve their work with the stick and significantly improve puck control. They are designed to develop key hockey skills in a fun way. Thanks to their regular use, whether during training on the ice or during dry training off the ice, players gradually improve their speed and dexterity of their hands, fine motor skills, feeling for the puck, reaction time and overall coordination of movements. Training is thus more dynamic, varied and more tailored to the individual needs of the players. At the same time, stickhandling aids teach players to make quick decisions and react to game situations. They are better at one-on-one duels and can transfer the acquired skills to matches."

The sons of our colleague Milan Lučan from the maintenance transformation department also train in HK Sršne . Matúško is in the 4th year of hockey prep and Adamko is in the hockey class of the 6th year. Milan Lučan helps the club with children during tournaments and mini-league matches and is actively involved in the club's activities. About hockey training, he says:

"My children liked public skating in the Hornets Arena so much that we stayed on the ice. During the first years in the hockey club, the children mainly learned the basics of skating. In higher grades, they also focus on the "stick" technique to realize that they will not only lead the puck on a flat surface, but there will be hockey sticks, obstacles on the ice and they need to get through them with the puck. The aforementioned specialized aids help them in this."