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Dreaded Czech U18 Thread

Nobody is gonna mention the complete unknown player Vashek Richards getting nominated from 2nd tier Swedish U18 league? lol
Probably a nothing player who will be cut eventually, but he is listed at 6'4" 183lbs and seems to have some skill. Don't mind this shot in the dark to be honest, though I am also surprised a bit Winkelhofer didn't make the camp. The defense badly needs at least one of Mrtka/Psenicka anyway.

Aside from this borderline shocking nomination, I don't see any surprises. Kamas I don't know what to think of to be honest, but underagers are always fun. Especially Kachlir, who I think might just make the team when all is said and done.
Mikes produced well internationally, but his club stats are brutal and I didn't like him that much by eye test either. Healthy Pavlik fills the same role, but he is much more experienced and IMO better, even though he also isn't having a good season and might not even get drafted.
Overall a good squad, if we lucked into Benak (or even better, him and all of Mrtka/Pekar/Psenicka/Nestrasil/Stebetak) medal would absolutely be a reasonable expectation. Even without them they should have a solid shot, but yeah, hard to get too excited when Czech U18 teams can go head to head with the best of Canada at Hlinka only to lose to Kazachstan months later.
 
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I was glad to see Larys returned.

He probably won’t play this year, but could be one of the first goaltenders selected in the NHL draft next year.
 
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Wooren said:
hard to get too excited when Czech U18 teams can go head to head with the best of Canada at Hlinka only to lose to Kazachstan months later.
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As perfect a summary as I've ever read of our U18 squad.

Curious if you have an opinion on how many czechs get drafted this year?
 
Czechboy said:
What do you like about him?
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I only have watched him once or twice (and the second time I probably forgot he was playing so I didn’t even realize him), but he was absolutely fantastic in the Youth Olympic Games last winter. I remember vividly he looked big and athletic and made great saves.

It seems like he’s progressing alright in the last year. Others may know more about him than I do, but I’m intrigued by his potential.
 
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I would really like to know what happened to F. Novák. I thought he might have had a chance to play in the championship.
I think he hasn't played a single match since the penultimate national team match. And I think he got injured maybe even while celebrating the winning goal in the last match in overtime. It looked like a shoulder injury. I'm guessing he's had surgery and the season is over for him. The main thing is that he's healthy for next season.
 
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Good news for Wooren.. Mikes was added and our mystery 6'4 Richards was cut.

Mrtka has 3 points in 3 playoff games in case anyone is wondering.

I like the squad. I do think we need a few of the NA skaters to be added if they get eliminated from playoffs and then we'd be pretty deep. However, guys like Novotny, Cihar and Poletin are no slouches! Hopefully Dravecky doesn't scare the shit out of me with every shift.lol
 
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Czechboy said:


Good news for Wooren.. Mikes was added and our mystery 6'4 Richards was cut.

Mrtka has 3 points in 3 playoff games in case anyone is wondering.

I like the squad. I do think we need a few of the NA skaters to be added if they get eliminated from playoffs and then we'd be pretty deep. However, guys like Novotny, Cihar and Poletin are no slouches! Hopefully Dravecky doesn't scare the shit out of me with every shift.lol
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Too bad, would have liked to see that unknown guy play at least a game. As for Mikes, I don't really care either way, as long as he doesn't play in top 6.
 
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Seattle is in game 6 tonight and has to win.

So Mrtka and Pekar may be available soon.

Pekar has 2 points in 5 playoff games (meh)
Mrtka has 3 points in 5 playoff games (pretty good for a 17 year old Dman in WHL)

Anyways, 2 good players may become available for us.
 
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Since I'm on it.. game 7 tonight for Portland and Prince George

Portland has Stebatak and Psnecka! Max has 4 points in 6 games as well.

So we may have some reinforcements soon!

Nestrasil and Benak feel VERY unlikely. I don't fully understand the USHL but they are still in regular season.

Benaks team finished first in their division and Benak led them in scoring with a .ppg. I'd say he did exceptionally well. Looks like playoffs start April 14.

So we will be getting smoked by US players from USHL while our Czech ones can't go.lol

This tourney starts April 23rd. So kiss Benak and Nestrasil goodbye.lol

My dream is Pekar, Psnecka, Stebatek and Mrtka. Good scorer, 2 great D for this level and a great goalie.
 
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So hopefully Mrtka and Pekar in, Psenicka and Stebetak no sadly ..

What are we lookin in?

I see D: Mrtka, Dravecky, Skok, Cerny, Mikel, Kachlir

Dont know who the seventh will be - doesnt look bad. Damn shame Svec is not eligible anymore and Psenicka wont probably make it in time, those two would be a big boost

F: Cihar, Katolicky, Novotny, Poletin, Pekar, Pavlik, Rozsival, Zahejsky, Fasner, Kucharcik, Krcal, Macek?

First eight are a lock imo, no Benak sucks so much, Nestrasil too. Benak would just dominate amongst his peers. We will miss our best player sadly. Still the first five mentioned are very solid. I would also bring Hartl, but man we never have balls to bring a lot of those 2yrs younger guys, Kachlir is a bright exception.

G: who do we have if Stebetak is not there? Osrsulak ? who else, I really dont know here

Sadly some top guys will be missing, but overall it will be a decent team, Dont know if strong enough to bring some medal though.
 
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martygod12 said:
So hopefully Mrtka and Pekar in, Psenicka and Stebetak no sadly ..

What are we lookin in?

I see D: Mrtka, Dravecky, Skok, Cerny, Mikel, Kachlir

Dont know who the seventh will be - doesnt look bad. Damn shame Svec is not eligible anymore and Psenicka wont probably make it in time, those two would be a big boost

F: Cihar, Katolicky, Novotny, Poletin, Pekar, Pavlik, Rozsival, Zahejsky, Fasner, Kucharcik, Krcal, Macek?

First eight are a lock imo, no Benak sucks so much, Nestrasil too. Benak would just dominate amongst his peers. We will miss our best player sadly. Still the first five mentioned are very solid. I would also bring Hartl, but man we never have balls to bring a lot of those 2yrs younger guys, Kachlir is a bright exception.

G: who do we have if Stebetak is not there? Osrsulak ? who else, I really dont know here

Sadly some top guys will be missing, but overall it will be a decent team, Dont know if strong enough to bring some medal though.
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I have no idea but that would be a solid team. Is skok even eligible?
Mrtka and dravecky could end up being two first rounders.

It'll be fun to cheer them all the way to the relegation match!
 
Czechboy said:
I have no idea but that would be a solid team. Is skok even eligible?
Mrtka and dravecky could end up being two first rounders.

It'll be fun to cheer them all the way to the relegation match!
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idk I really dont like all this “age” shanenigans. If the player is still 18 and draft eligible and not going to draft as overager he should be eligible to play at U18 period.

And not do all this he must be born before this month and not after this month bs.
 
martygod12 said:
So hopefully Mrtka and Pekar in, Psenicka and Stebetak no sadly ..

What are we lookin in?

I see D: Mrtka, Dravecky, Skok, Cerny, Mikel, Kachlir

Dont know who the seventh will be - doesnt look bad. Damn shame Svec is not eligible anymore and Psenicka wont probably make it in time, those two would be a big boost

F: Cihar, Katolicky, Novotny, Poletin, Pekar, Pavlik, Rozsival, Zahejsky, Fasner, Kucharcik, Krcal, Macek?

First eight are a lock imo, no Benak sucks so much, Nestrasil too. Benak would just dominate amongst his peers. We will miss our best player sadly. Still the first five mentioned are very solid. I would also bring Hartl, but man we never have balls to bring a lot of those 2yrs younger guys, Kachlir is a bright exception.

G: who do we have if Stebetak is not there? Osrsulak ? who else, I really dont know here

Sadly some top guys will be missing, but overall it will be a decent team, Dont know if strong enough to bring some medal though.
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I would start Trejbal ahead of Oršulák. Trejbal had a better season for both club and NT, and to me seems to have higher potential of the two.
 
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As for the defense.. Kachlir had problems in the national team in defense even against players of his age, I'm quite surprised that he's still in the selection. But maybe he improved in this regard during the year, I don't know..
Mikel was the weakest link in the team at HGC, more was expected of him.. On the contrary, Seidl and Malínek played very solidly. Anyway, it's good that there's plenty to choose from.
Overall, the absence of those few players will certainly be noticeable, but it will still be good with some difference players. It just really makes you sad when you remember Benák's cooperation with Novotný, this will simply be missed.
 
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Goodman68 said:
As for the defense.. Kachlir had problems in the national team in defense even against players of his age, I'm quite surprised that he's still in the selection. But maybe he improved in this regard during the year, I don't know..
Mikel was the weakest link in the team at HGC, more was expected of him.. On the contrary, Seidl and Malínek played very solidly. Anyway, it's good that there's plenty to choose from.
Overall, the absence of those few players will certainly be noticeable, but it will still be good with some difference players. It just really makes you sad when you remember Benák's cooperation with Novotný, this will simply be missed.
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What about Kachlir? I didnt followed him closely, but he seems to be doing pretty well all around this season for his age. Looks like he has no problem playing at U20 level already, and I think I remember he was getting a lot of praise in that last U18 NT tournament.

Also he is offensive D, so I guess he could and probably will have some shortcomings in the back idk.

Only downside is his size again, 170cm and 63kg is just too small .. he is 15 though .. how long does kids grow lol? Can he hit at least 180? :D

This is gonna be Tomas Galvas all over again probably lol, but he is still very skilled D and should be on the team imo. I kinda disagree that there is too much to choose from, given Skok and Svec are not eligible anymore and Psenicka will not come.
 
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martygod12 said:
170cm and 63kg is just too small .. he is 15 though
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I'd say that is a good size for a 15 year old. He'll be Hronek's size if I had to guess.

Agree though.. he is like Evan Bouchard. Offensive D can sometimes like downright silly in their end. The key is to get them out of their end and to the other blue line.

The guy I'm most interested in is Dravecky. He's already in first round talks for next year and played at the Hlinka. Can't wait to see him a year later. Now give me Mrtka at 25 minutes a night and we're golden on D. No Psnecka sucks. No Benak REALLY sucks. He would've had a pick of forwards to join him on line 1 and PP. Imagine a PP with Mrtka, Dravecky, Benak, Novotny and Cihar? Holy moly that'd be good!
 
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martygod12 said:
What about Kachlir? I didnt followed him closely, but he seems to be doing pretty well all around this season for his age. Looks like he has no problem playing at U20 level already, and I think I remember he was getting a lot of praise in that last U18 NT tournament.

Also he is offensive D, so I guess he could and probably will have some shortcomings in the back idk.

Only downside is his size again, 170cm and 63kg is just too small .. he is 15 though .. how long does kids grow lol? Can he hit at least 180? :D

This is gonna be Tomas Galvas all over again probably lol, but he is still very skilled D and should be on the team imo. I kinda disagree that there is too much to choose from, given Skok and Svec are not eligible anymore and Psenicka will not come.
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As for the offense, there will certainly be no problem with him. But even in the U16 category, he had problems with personal duels, too often the opponent was able to get over him. So there are question marks about his defensive side. But as I write, maybe he improved during the season. I haven't seen him play for a long time.
If I take into account the performances at the HGC, I have no concerns about the performances of Malínek and Saidl and I would have no problem with their nomination. But it's really only based on that one tournament. Because of the circumstances, I don't feel like watching the matches of other tournaments anymore, as I used to in the past.
 
Czechboy said:
I'd say that is a good size for a 15 year old. He'll be Hronek's size if I had to guess.

Agree though.. he is like Evan Bouchard. Offensive D can sometimes like downright silly in their end. The key is to get them out of their end and to the other blue line.

The guy I'm most interested in is Dravecky. He's already in first round talks for next year and played at the Hlinka. Can't wait to see him a year later. Now give me Mrtka at 25 minutes a night and we're golden on D. No Psnecka sucks. No Benak REALLY sucks. He would've had a pick of forwards to join him on line 1 and PP. Imagine a PP with Mrtka, Dravecky, Benak, Novotny and Cihar? Holy moly that'd be good!
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His height should be about 180cm, at least that's how I found out in the past, I don't feel like checking.
 
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Nice two games against Slovaks, seems like they should be better no? Looking at their lineup, bunch of guys playing slovak Extraliga with men. At least from statwatching, its suprising how onesided those games were.

Katolicky played thats good, Dravecky seems to be on fire, but he only scores against Slovaks lol, so lets see how he fares against other teams. Kachlir with a goal too, hope he will make the final team. Cerny will also be great at this level, he may never be drafted, because he is so tiny, but he has some skill and amongst his peers he really stands out. Rozsival on fire too.

Now bring in Mrtka, Novotny and Pekar, and somehow sneak Benak out of US and lets go for a medal lol
 
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