Hull Seahawks and Emil Svec extend 'love affair' after agreeing new deal

Confirmation of a fifth season on the East Yorkshire coast for the 6ft 4ins Czechian-born forward came on Monday night. Given the above stats, it should come as no surprise that head coach Matty Davies continues to have enormous faith in him.

Last season saw the Seahawks come the closest yet to landing their first piece of silverware when they were edged out 5-3 by Yorkshire rivals Leeds Knights in the NIHL National play-off final in Coventry.

Svec was at the forefront of that drive for a first-ever trophy, his 45 goals and 51 assists in 57 league and play-off appearances piviotal, particularly during an impressive second half of the campaign when a run of 15 wins in 16 games carried the Seahawks to runners-up in the regular season standings.

The nature of the plauy-off final defeat in Coventry – Leeds coming from 3-2 down inside the last five minutes – stung the entire organisation and will be no doubt be a motivating factor for Svec after his agreeing to another year at Hull Ice Arena.

The popular 31-year-old winger admitted he was glad his future had been settled.

“Over the past few months, there have been a lot of questions about whether I’m coming back or not,” said Svec shortly after his return was confirmed.

“But I’m not going anywhere. I feel like Hull is my home now and where I should be and I’m happy both on and off the ice.

“It’s my second home and I’m so glad to be part of this club.”

Svec, who came to Hull after a first season in the UK at Swindon Wildcats, is the 16th player announced for the 2026-27 season by Davies, far and away further down the line with his roster build than any other coach in the league.

Speaking recently it would Davies says he is almost there with the remaining pieces, it is just a matter of when the club announces those signings.

With Svec being the third confirmed import after netminder Aleksanteri Heiskanen and fellow forward Johnny Corneil, Davies still has to secure two overseas players - at least if the endless rumours of an increase to five imports being permitted next season turn out to be true.

“From January onwards, I think that's what I saw from Emil,” said Davies. “Someone that was willing to not only do what he wants to do going forward, but also doing what I want him to do going back.

"He just really, really does care about the club – genuinely cares. Because he's been here for almost five years now, he really does care about winning and knows what it means to win something here.

"His numbers and what he's done are the same as Kieran Brown’s at Leeds, pretty much.

"Obviously, Kieran's impact at Leeds has been literally monumental in terms of what he's done for that club and you could argue that Emile's done the exact same for us.

“The only difference is we haven't won anything yet. I think if we'd have won anything during Emil’s time here, everyone would look at it very differently.

"He is an elite player in this league still and I don't think he'll fully get the appreciation he deserves until he's left, in terms of what how much he has done for this club during the years that he's been here.”