Piráti Chomutov () is a Czech ice hockey team from Chomutov, Czech Republic. Established as ÃÂSK Chomutov in 1945, the team has played in Chomutov through numerous team name changes and promotions/relegations in the Czechoslovak and Czech leagues. They play in the second level 1st Czech Republic Hockey League. Their home arena is the Rocknet aréna located in Chomutov, Czech Republic.
The club was established in 1945 as ÃÂSK Chomutov.
In the 1950âÂÂ51 season, playing as Sokol HutÃÂ, the team was promoted to the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League, where they played until the 1963âÂÂ64 season.
In 1967, as VTà ½ Chomutov, the team was promoted to the highest league again but was relegated the very next year. In 1984 the club was demoted to the third level of hockey in Czechoslovak hockey, the Second National Hockey League.
In 1997, as KLH Chomutov, the club bought the license in the First National Hockey League (FNHL) from HC Slovan ÃÂsteÃÂtÃÂ Lvi.
After winning the league in the 2011âÂÂ12 FNHL season, Piráti Chomutov returned to the top-level league Czech Extraliga. During the play-outs in the 2013âÂÂ14 season Piráti Chomutov lost and returned to the First National Hockey League. Season 2014âÂÂ15 in FNHL was one of the most successful in history. Pirati Chomutov became a winner and after play off returned to the top-level league (season 2015âÂÂ16).
On 24 November 1956, while the team was operating under the name TJ BanÃÂk Chomutov ZJF, some members of the team were involved in a fatal airplane accident. A Czechoslovak Airlines flight, on an Ilyushin Il-12B aircraft, crashed near Eglisau, Switzerland. Three players, two top club officials and a reporter were among others on board the scheduled flight from Zurich to Prague, which crashed in fields after an engine failure. All on board perished.
<small>Updated April 25, 2018</small>