Petr Cech signs one-year deal for ice hockey side Chelmsford Chieftains, and wins Man of the Match

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Champions League winner Petr Cech has signed with Chelmsford Chieftains
The Essex ice hockey side are one tier higher than his last side Guildford Phoenix
Cech played junior hockey growing up, before becoming a goalkeeping legend
He was technical advisor at Chelsea before leaving after Todd Boehly's takeover

Published: 19:06 EDT, 6 November 2022 | Updated: 19:19 EDT, 6 November 2022

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Petr Cech, the former Chelsea and Arsenal star, has joined ice hockey side Chelmsford Chieftains on a one-year deal - and helped them to win his first match.

The Essex side are in the NIHL Division One South, a tier above the Guildford Phoenix, the Czech netminder's previous side. He made 20 appearances for the Surrey side across three years, helping them to a treble before leaving this summer.

The 40-year-old ex-goalkeeper signed for the Chieftains ahead of their match away to Oxford City Stars on Sunday, and started in the net wearing the #39 jersey he also wore at the Phoenix.

Petr Cech, seen here for Guildford Phoenix, has joined the Chelmsford Chieftains for the year

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Petr said on signing for the Cheiftains ‘I’m excited for a new challenge with the Chieftains and I’m looking forward to helping the team reach their targets for the season’. pic.twitter.com/kU25XZ46Eg
— Chelmsford Chieftains (@chiefsicehockey) November 6, 2022

The Chieftains won 6-4, and Cech was named his side's Man of the Match for his performance, according to the Stars Twitter account. He also earned the same accolade in his first match with the Guildford side in 2019.

Speaking before Chelmsford's win in Oxford, Cech said: 'I’m excited for a new challenge with the Chieftains and I’m looking forward to helping the team reach their targets for the season.'

Chieftains head coach Mark Saunders told the BBC: 'Having a netminder of Petr's quality and experience come into our squad is a huge boost for us right now.

'He brings a winning mentality, a desire to compete every single time he's on the ice, and we look forward to seeing him add to our group this season.'

Cech was a technical director at Chelsea, before leaving the club in the wake of its takeover

Fans were quick to hail the signing, especially with his experience of winning the the Premier League four times, and the 2012 Champions League trophy, as a professional footballer with Chelsea.

Cech recently left his role as Chelsea's technical director following the club's takeover by Todd Boehly, having worked in an advisory capacity for the Blues since 2019.

Cech grew up with a love of a number of sports, and played junior hockey in the Czech Republic. He returned to ice hockey after retiring from football, combining it with his professional role at Chelsea.

The sport's ultra-resistant helmets are also a benefit to Cech, who was born with a weaker skull as a result of being born a triplet.