A Czech connection

“Finally,” he said with a smile when the possibility of playing alongside Poletin and Frolo was brought up.

The three already know each other well, and Cihar believes their different styles could complement one another.

“Thomas (Poletin) is such a nice power forward. He’ll stay around the net and do the hard work for us. I’ll try to be the shooter, or maybe the playmaker, too.”

Frolo brings another dimension to the mix.

“He’s such a nasty guy,” Cihar said. “He’ll make the plays for me or for Poletin, and we’ll try our best to help the team.”

There could also be a language advantage.

With three Czechs potentially sharing the ice, communication should never be a problem, particularly when it comes to setting up plays or making adjustments during a game.

“We’re definitely going to speak Czech on the ice,” Cihar said. “But in the locker room, we still need to speak English so the other guys can understand us, too.”

The prospect of that combination is a bonus to what has already been a welcome return to the Okanagan.

Cihar spent the early part of the season with the Ontario Reign, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, appearing in a couple of games before being reassigned to Kelowna.

It was a valuable introduction to professional hockey, even if the offensive production wasn’t there.

The adjustment from junior hockey to playing against established professionals was considerable, and the young forward quickly discovered just how demanding the AHL can be.

“The league is really hard for a young guy to produce points,” Cihar said. “I tried my best, and the coaches were pretty satisfied with me. I’m really happy I was able to show everything I had.”

The physical nature of the game was something that stood out immediately.

“You’re playing against men. It’s more physical, and everything is just on another level. It’s really hard for a new guy to produce points, but at least I have that experience now for next year.”

He also got an appreciation for the intensity of the league, where the competition can be considerably more demanding than some might expect.

“Every single night, there might be one or two fights. It’s unbelievable. The experience you get there is unbelievable, too.”

For now, his attention is back on Kelowna, where he has an opportunity to build on an impressive first WHL season.

Cihar was a point-per-game player in his rookie campaign, a production level that established him as one of the Rockets’ important offensive contributors.

He isn’t satisfied with simply matching that performance.

“A point per game in your first season is pretty good. It’s not bad,” he said. “But this season, my goal is a little bit higher. We’ll see what happens.”

There will be added responsibility, particularly with a Rockets roster that looks considerably different from the Memorial Cup group of a season ago.

Several high-profile players have moved on, leaving opportunities for others to take on bigger roles.

Cihar recognizes the difference, but isn’t concerned about the change in personnel.

“Last year, we had some big names on paper, with a couple of guys getting drafted and signed,” he said. “But I think we have a really nice team this year, too. Everybody buys in and does their best to help the team. I think we can go far.”

His own contribution won’t necessarily be measured by points alone.

With a full WHL season behind him and a brief taste of the professional game, Cihar understands that he can also help some of the younger players adjust to life in Kelowna.

“I want to be a great teammate, get some points and help the new guys who came from the United States and around the world,” he said. “I can be a leader, but I can also be a really good friend. I’ll do my best to help those young guys and contribute offensively.”

There is another prize on the horizon, too.

Cihar has his sights set on representing Czechia at the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship, which will be staged in Canada. Czechia is in the same preliminary-round group as Canada, making the prospect particularly appealing.

“It’s going to be a really interesting tournament, and I’m looking forward to that, too,” he said. “But right now, I’m looking forward to playing in Kelowna and doing my best here.”

His return to the Rockets wasn’t entirely unexpected.

Cihar admitted that the possibility of being sent back to the WHL was in the back of his mind while he was with Ontario. Establishing himself as a regular in the AHL as a young player is a difficult assignment, and he understood that another opportunity to develop in Kelowna could be beneficial.

“If things didn’t go the way I expected, or the way the coaching staff and general managers expected, I thought I might come back to Kelowna,” he said. “I’m really happy it happened, and I’m really happy they gave me the opportunity to play there, too.”

The AHL experience is now behind him, at least for the time being.

He returns to a city he enjoys, an organization he knows and a team with ambitions of making another significant run.

And if things fall into place, there could be a new Czech connection in Kelowna that opposing teams will have to figure out.

Three players. One language. And potentially one very interesting line.

by Regan Bartel

A Czech connection

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What's Trending