Czech Mate

Szturc has 14 points (4+10=14) in eight games this season, which is good for second place in WHL scoring.

While it is a small sample size, Rockets’ head coach Kris Mallette isn’t surprised by the 18-year-old’s sensational start.

“He has been consistently good”, Mallette told RocketFAN. “The biggest thing with him is he competes. Everything he gets (points) is because of that hard work. I would say out of the eight games we’ve played; he has been our best player in seven of them”.

Szturc has come back to the WHL for his sophomore season with a different mindset. A switch went off in his head after competing for Czechia in August at the most recent world junior hockey champions in Edmonton and Red Deer.

“The way he played last year in a supporting role with us and how he was able to score 16 goals, I knew there was a player there”, Mallette admitted. “I think he was one of only two on the Czechia team that wasn’t drafted. He had success playing second-line minutes, playing power play and penalty kill, which just showed him he can play with the best”.

Szturc’s confidence skyrocketed with a goal in the opening game at the world juniors and a fourth-place finish at the high-profile event.

The sociable and often smiling forward will again have a chance to play for his nation when the tournament is held this December in Moncton, New Brunswick.

“Overseas, they train differently”, Mallette continued. “They (Europeans) take care of their bodies. They get the right sleep. They eat the right things. All of that translates to success on the ice.”

Last season, Szturc hid behind veteran Czech teammate Pavel Novak, who had made a nice transition to the North American lifestyle, the smaller ice surface, and his teammates. This season, ‘Gabby’ as he is known to his teammates, has to fend for himself with no countryman to lean on.

“His on-ice game is one thing, but he has worked extremely hard to learn the (English) language”, Mallette said. “I remember our first conversations last year and he gave yes and no answers. You can now hold a conversation with him. He understands everything you are saying and it just shows the character that the young man has.”

Learning to understand and speak English is paramount for any player wanting to earn a paycheck at the NHL level. Managers and coaches typically speak that language and are the ones that determine if you are going to play at the elite level.

Czech Republic hockey has a long and rich history in the NHL, with the most famous player being Jaromir Jagr, who dressed in 1,733 regular season games, scoring 766 goals playing with Pittsburgh, Washington, the NY Rangers, Boston, New Jersey, Florida before eventually ending his career with the Calgary Flames in 2017-2018.

“Some NHL teams are inquiring about him ( Szturc) now”, Mallette continued. “That would be a hell of a story for him and us”.

Undrafted players can flourish at the NHL level. Look no further than Kelowna Rockets alumni Josh Gorges and Vernon Fiddler if you need additional proof.

Fiddler played 877 NHL games over 14 seasons while Gorges suited up for 733 games over 13 seasons despite being undrafted.

‘Gabby’ is game, to do the same.

by Regan Bartel

Czech Mate

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