Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

European d-man is coming into his own

Marek Rocak: Comfortable on the ice and in his own skin

Feb 9, 2024 | 8:00 AM

Only 23 players from the small country of Czechia, population 10.5 million, have earned a spot on a Western Hockey League roster this season.

That makes up only 4.3 percent of the players in the league, with Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland rounding out the top four European countries.

Each team is allowed only two players as imports, which explains why the numbers are so low in comparison to the 462 Canadian players that earn a spot on one of the 22 teams.

Among the Czech-born players is second-year Kelowna Rockets defenseman Marek Rocak, who pursued his hockey career in North America just over a year ago.

“My family is a soccer family,” Rocak told RocketFAN. “My dad [Marek Sr.] told me I had to make a decision on what sport to play. He was cheering for me to choose soccer, but I said hockey. He is happy for me though, to do what I love.”

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Outside of being an accomplished chef, Rocak’s father is a massive fan of Athletic Club Sparta Prague, with the passion for the team trickling down to his son.

“I love that team. My grandpa was a big fan. My brother is a big supporters of the team,” Rocak said as the Rockets face the Blazers in Kamloops tonight. “I also love Real Madrid from Spain. I think the best player in the world is Cristiano Ronaldo, but the guys were so, no it’s [Lionel] Messi, but they are just trying to piss me off.”

Learning to speak English at the age of eight, Rocak’s mastery of the language is very good, which only helps him communicate with his Kelowna teammates.

“Everyone in Czechia was telling me I needed to come here to play in the NHL,” he added. “I signed in a pro league back home and I didn’t like it. They all had families. I am more comfortable here with teammates that are my age. There I was scared to say something. I feel better in this group.”

Adapting to North American hockey can’t be easy. The ice surface is about the same length, but the width is significantly different (85 feet wide) compared to Europe (98.5 feet).

“It is a smaller ice surface here. It isn’t as technical as pros, who are men, so it is like flying on the ice. I love to skate. I like this type of hockey more. That said, I find everyone is too close [on the smaller ice] with all of the bodies hitting.”

Known as ‘Rocky’ by this teammates, Rocak and Czechia teammate Gabriel Szturc are roommates on the road and often speak their native language, much to the confusion of fellow teammates.

“The guys don’t really like it,” he said with a mischievous grin on his face. “They are wondering what we are saying. Are they talking about us? I know it is annoying for them to hear that, but I enjoy talking in Czechia because I don’t have to think what I am saying.”

Rocak’s family has never been to Canada to watch him play, but that could change in the not-so-distant future.

“I think everyone from Europe wants to come to the States [U.S.A] or Canada because it is a different world,” he said. “It is good for a couple of weeks. I am sure those that go to Europe would say the same thing. We don’t have a lot of big cities there, and I am from a small village, so I like it quiet. We drive slowly and we have no traffic.”

Describing himself as an introvert, the first-round CHL Import Draft pick from 2022 has been welcomed by his teammates with open arms.

“They helped me a lot at the start. I was without my family,” Rocak said. They try to help me, and I try to help them back.

“We now have a different relationship, and now they treat me like a Canadian guy who can’t speak very good English.”