The draft allows European junior-aged players to join teams in the CHL, which is divided into the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The 60 total CHL teams, nine of which are based in the United States, are limited to two import players (non-North American) each.
Petr Šidlík (right) at the 2011 UI8 World Championships. Photo: hockeyfans.ch. |
Then a trio, Tomáš Hyka, Dominik Volek, and Patrik Machač were taken eighth, ninth, and tenth. Hyka, from Mladá Boleslav, was expected to be taken in the recent NHL Draft, but was passed on. Lukáš Sedlák, who was chosen 14th, is the only Czech player who has already been drafted by an NHL team. Sedlák was taken in the sixth round this year by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Most of the players selected played on either the Czech U18 or U17 national teams last season. Inevitably, some of the players drafted will choose to leave the Czech Republic and play for the CHL team that picked them. If they leave, it weakens the talent pool that the Czech national teams have to choose from.
"We would obviously like to see the players stay, but it is not easy to convince them. Likewise, their parents or agents," Czech U18 national team coach Jiří Veber told hokej.cz's Václav Jáchim. "Our desire is the opposite, but some departures are inevitable. We're stuck with it," he says.
Convincing its top young players to remain at home is an ever-increasing challenge in the Czech Republic.
Here are the 15 Czech players chosen:
5. Petr Šidlík D Victoriaville Jihlava
8. Tomáš Hyka RW Gatineau Ml. Boleslav
9. Dominik Volek LW Regina Sparta Praha
10. Patrik Machač C Brampton Kladno
14. Lukáš Sedlák C Chicoutimi Č. Budějovice
22. Radek Faksa C Kitchener Třinec
26. Tomáš Pavelka D PEI Vítkovice
29. Roman Will G Moncton Ml. Boleslav
35. Matěj Beran C PEI Lulea (SWE)
36. Lukáš Králík F Victoria Olomouc
48. Michal Plutnar D Tri-City Liberec
52. Jaroslav Pavelka G Niagara Hradec Králové
54. Adam Řehák C Medicine Hat Vítkovice
57. Jiří Sekáč L/C Sudbury Youngstown (USHL)
59. Patrik Bartošák G Red Deer Vítkovice
Draft Picks by Country:
Czech Republic – 15
Russia – 11
Sweden – 9
Slovakia – 7
Germany – 5
Switzerland – 5
Norway – 4
Latvia – 3
Finland – 2
Belarus – 1
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