The assembly of the Association of Professional Ice Hockey Clubs (APK LH) elected Patrik Rimmel to its board at a meeting on Wednesday. The Vítkovice official replaces Aleš Kmoníček, who resigned from the five-member body for time-related reasons.
Rimmel has been involved in Czech professional hockey as both a player and a manager. The Ostrava native and Vítkovice product played 272 games in the top competition, also representing Olomouc and Havířov. He played in Slovakia, Poland and Norway as well.
After retiring, Rimmel moved into management, becoming general manager in Havířov and helping the club stabilise and return to the first league. He has worked at Vítkovice as sporting and executive manager since May 2020, and has also been involved in youth hockey and organising a summer hockey school for more than two decades.
Rimmel said he hoped to use his experience in management, partnerships and marketing to support the sporting and commercial development of the Extraliga.