Developing hockey skills since 2006
Hockey Talent Academy was founded in 2006 by coach Jaromír Pytlík (born March 15, 1973). Since 2005, he had worked at club level with the youth teams of KLH Vajgar Jindřichův Hradec. Thanks to his innovative approach to teaching hockey skills, backed by a number of club successes, he soon became head coach and methodology director of KLH Vajgar Jindřichův Hradec and founded Hockey Talent Academy. At the same time, he worked as a lecturer in the ČSLH coach-education program. From 2014 he led a coach-education program at German club Eisbären Berlin and is a methodology specialist and expert in effective skill training.
During his coaching career, he completed several coaching internships in Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver in Canada, as well as Helsinki and Kärpät Oulu in Finland, and took part in the program of Eisbären Berlin’s professional senior team. After his time with the major German club, he founded ICE DRAGONS, which later evolved into Rytíři z Telče, where he serves as head coach and chairman of the association.
Methodology, technology and individual development
His training uses not only the latest technological methods and trends, but also research into the movement habits of players in different age groups, which are then improved through targeted training programs. He is a sought-after specialist in player development. He played a major role in the development of NHL player Martin Nečas, one of the NHL’s most highly skilled players. Professional hockey players from the top European leagues, including players with NHL experience, have gone through his training program, although his primary focus remains young talented players with potential.
Hockey Talent Academy today
He is the author of the project and the hockey-skill teaching methodology used at Hockey Talent Academy. HTA offers specialized training programs focused on player development regardless of club affiliation, from age five through senior hockey. It creates the best possible conditions for development and organizes training focused on every hockey skill, multi-day training camps, games and tournaments. The project also covers testing and the design of individual development plans in skills, conditioning and tactics, as well as the player’s overall personal development. The program also includes advice in nutrition and health care.
Training is delivered by qualified and educated coaches as well as former top-level hockey players, many of whom have experience in the NHL or European competitions. Jaromír Pytlík works with a number of hockey experts from around the world; his coaching team previously included Yogi Svejkovsky, now an NHL coach. He also provides professional leadership for the coaching academy he established in 2025 under MUNI.