Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

New face, big dreams

‘I want to see if I belong at this level’ – rookie forward Daniel Pekar

Sep 22, 2025 | 6:00 AM

When Daniel Pekar laced up his skates last winter during a brief stint in Czechia’s pro league, he found himself staring across the red line at a legend. Jaromir Jagr, who played 1,733 NHL games and once scored over 60 goals in a season, was still suiting up at age 53. For Pekar, then just 18, it was one of those moments when hockey stops being just a game and becomes something larger.

“Playing against Jagr was awesome,” Pekar said. “When he’s on the ice, you know he’s there. After the game, I shook his hand and thought, that’s unreal.”

He only had a handful of pro games last season, but facing Jagr left a lasting impression.

“He’s slower now, but so strong on the puck. Nobody can take it from him, and he sees the game a step ahead. When a guy scores over 60 in the NHL and three times hits 50, you see why he’s special. That’s what I try to learn from him the most — how he protects the puck.”

That lesson now comes with him to Kelowna, where Pekar joins the Rockets as a 19-year-old rookie, selected 7th overall in the most recent CHL Import Draft.

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A Dream to Play in Canada

Pekar was born in Austria but raised in Czechia, where he fell in love with hockey at a very young age. His father, Karel Pekar, was a former floorball player who represented the Czech national team in the late 1990s and early 2000s, competing in tournaments against Switzerland, Finland, and Germany.

Pekar began as a defenseman but eventually moved to forward, finding the position better suited to his style. And from the start, his ambitions stretched beyond Czech borders.

“It was always my dream to play in Canada,” he said. “Last season I told my agent, and we decided it was probably the best move. The league back home isn’t as strong. I wanted to play better hockey.”

That dream has now taken root in Kelowna. “When I first saw Kelowna from the plane, I thought, okay, this place is so nice. People told me Kelowna was beautiful, and they were right. The lake, the views, everything. I love it here.”

A Taste of Canada Beforehand

Over the past two summers, Pekar spent time in Kamloops training with former NHLer Jan Ludvig and his son John, a WHL graduate, along with a small group of Czech players. Their days were filled with on-ice sessions, gym work, and even boxing classes in the mountains near Kamloops.

That exposure gave him a taste of Canadian hockey life — and makes a trip to Kamloops this season feel like a homecoming, with familiar faces in the stands.

A New Challenge in the WHL

This season Pekar faces a schedule unlike anything he’s seen before.

“I’m excited to see what it’s like,” he said of the 68-game grind. “So many games in such a short time, and the travel too. Driving hours for games — that doesn’t happen in Czechia. It’ll be new, but I think I can handle it.”

The adjustment extends to the ice itself.

“Back in Czechia, you have more space and time. Here, everything happens fast, but you can beat a guy one-on-one and go straight to the net.”

That last point isn’t just his opinion: “Every coach I’ve ever had told me I have a good shot and should use it more.”

Building His Game

“I think I’m a two-way forward,” Pekar said. “I can score goals, make plays, defend, and bring some physicality too.”

He patterns his game after Florida Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. “He plays a two-way game, scores, brings some grit. That’s the kind of player I want to be.”

Asked how many goals he expects this season, Pekar only smiled. “I don’t want to say. We’ll see how it goes.”

Learning the Language

“In school they taught us the basics, but I probably learned the most when I went to Kamloops. I had to speak it every day. At first I could understand but not really talk. After a few weeks I realized I could.”

Even his name takes some practice: it’s pronounced Pe-kash.

Looking Ahead

“I always wanted to play in Canada, and now I want to prove I can do it. I want to see if I belong at this level.”

Whether it’s soaking in the roar of U.S. Division crowds, traveling to rinks he’s never seen, or carrying lessons from a Hall of Famer like Jagr, Daniel Pekar is eager for every step.

“I’m super excited. I love playing in front of fans. They give you energy for the game. I can’t wait for that.”