2023 Summary

2023: Back on the track

We have experienced 10 great tournaments this year, full of beer, ice hockey, bowling and football. Let’s remind ourselves how it was.
This year was full of very nice things also outside of the tournaments. We went to a wedding of one of our crew members and we also welcomed new baby into the team.

Spring vibes

We have started the year with two March ice hockey tournaments. First one was a smaller tournament of 8 teams which won for the first time the RigaCup Team, a team which is coming to our tournaments for a long time (their 8th visit). So they were very happy to finally do it. For this tournament, we had to change the place of the final ceremony. And to be honest, it didn’t go well, we know that and we will stick to good old P.M. Club!

Second March tournament was already fully loaded with 12 teams and the winners got the medals also for the first time (it was their 4th participation), team 365 from Sweden. We have to say that in their team are some past NHL stars. But no worries, they are not practicing ice hockey professionally anymore. We also welcomed at this tournament after a long time a team from Estonia. At the Beer King competition, Marcus from Sweden might claim his title for the 5th time, but unfortunately he spilled some beer, and we can’t tolerate that. So maybe next time!

Following was a traditional April tournament where we had almost summer weather sometimes, so we could enjoy the game Beer Puppeteer outside, and it was lots of fun! After some time we welcomed an ice hockey team from Italy (yes they exist!) and the winning trophy went to Draci Dolný Kubín from Slovakia (again!). But it is not about winning as the Telford Spartans (UK) showed us in the last matches, when they so desperately wanted to play for the last place so they scored themselves a goal.

Totally hot summer

Summer came very early, so we had a very nice time during the bowling tournament which started on the 1st of June. We welcomed historically the most number of teams – 36! so we had to play in two bowling centers Žižkov and DUO. The atmosphere was as always very friendly, we sang together, laughed together and also drank together! Winners are from Norway, team Bowling kameratene, which is already enrolled for next year, so watch out! Also for the first time, we had at the bowling tournament teams from Poland and Lithuania, we hope to see them more in the next years.

We also presented a new gift, which you can get the whole season coming to our tournaments – Barrel cap. Everybody loved it and wore it during the tournaments, we were very happy!

Two weeks after the bowling tournament we welcomed the first 10 football teams. It was a smaller tournament, but very nice and cozy. We even had two teams from Kazakhstan! The gold medals went to newcomers from Sweden – Racket IF. It was a time of midsomar in Sweden, so they were celebrating and playing games between the matches, even though they managed to win.

We ended June with a bigger football tournament with 26 teams from all around Europe and also the US or Brazil! Winning trophy went again to Portugal, team C.D. Compact Records. They celebrated so much on the pitch, we hope the beer already soaked to the grass. Three teams celebrated 10 years in our tournament, an unbelievable number. Laerdal legends from Norway, Beercelona from Switzerland and Rehsumpfe Sportfreunde from Germany, thank you guys for being loyal to us!

Autumn ride

We had an incredible autumn in the Czech Republic, there was nice weather and it was warm almost till November. So the August football tournament and ice hockey tournament in September were full of joy. Our boss celebrated his 100th tournament, he’s the true Prague’s Barrel survivor! 🙂 And we handed new medals with Mr. Pivman!

During the August football tournament the medals went for the first time to Finland, to team FC Dilinger and September ice hockey tournament were crowned Canadian boys with slightly Czech name – Canadian Krásky (beauties).

It’s already a tradition that we close the autumn hockey series with two tournaments in November. The 10th of November was our worst day regarding the injuries – 5. 🙁 Fortunately enough, for the rest of November were our paramedics how we like the best – slightly bored.

On the positive note, not only were we handing Barrel medals but we introduced the Barrel trophies as well. You need to have that in your collection! We had a first life concert of three guitars both at the ice rink and at the final ceremony. And again, we witnessed many manifestations of sportsmanship and friendship from playing the national anthem of your “buddies” from the locker room or celebrating the first international goal of “the rival”. We still have to smile when we recall the girl disappearing in the “grape” of players from the other team hugging her. 🙂

In both November tournaments the gold medals went to Slovakia – Steelers (finally on their 5th tournament) and Partička Zvolen.

What you can expect in 2024

Of course we are not stopping, after a little break we will be back for three spring ice hockey tournaments, which are already full, so we are slowly opening registrations to autumn tournaments.

Registrations are on already for bowling and football. There is a little change this time, there will be only one June football tournament (also for women) and one in August, so don’t miss your spot! We are looking forward to meeting you finally or to seeing you again next year. Cheers to that!