Tomas Poletin set for WHL debut after double draft celebration

The Kelowna Rockets open the road portion of their WHL season tonight in Penticton against the expansion Vees. All eyes will be on Tomas (Tom-ash) Poletin (Pole-a-teen), the team’s first overall pick in the CHL Import Draft. The 18-year-old Czech forward makes his league debut after a summer that saw him drafted in both the NHL and the CHL within the same week.

“Yeah, it was a great feeling, obviously, and especially like being drafted twice in one week, first to the NHL and then here. It was a super exciting week for me. And yeah, it’s a pleasure,” Poletin said, reflecting on being chosen first overall in the CHL Import Draft.

The NHL Draft brought its own excitement. Selected in the fourth round by the New York Islanders, Poletin watched the draft at home surrounded by family and friends.

“No, I was in Czech back home with my family, friends, we had quite a lot of people at our house, and yeah, we watched it on the TV. And then I got a call from my agent and then from Islanders. And it was an amazing feeling, like being drafted is something you’ve been dreaming about since you were a kid, so yeah, it was amazing.”

Poletin is focused on the work ahead, rather than long-term guarantees.

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“I don’t think that’s the question for me, but I will do my best for sure. And uh, I just came back from the training camp, which was again like great experience and I super enjoyed it. And you know, playing the first preseason game there was unbelievable. And yeah, so I will do my best to get there.”

Fans are eager to see what kind of player he is.

“Um, you know, I try to play, try to play physical, try to play hard, be in the like areas around the net and just put the puck in the net and be there for the guys, be a good leader and play responsible for the team and be ready for every situation on the ice.”

Poletin sees himself as a two-way player rather than a pure goal scorer.

“Yeah, definitely that’s what I like to do, but I’m not really like goal scorer. I’m more of a two-way player, you know, making the opportunities for my teammates, but otherwise I can score a goal.”

His decision to come to Kelowna was deliberate. He wants to adjust to the smaller ice and the North American style of hockey before making the jump to the NHL.

“Yeah, for sure, like that’s also a reason why I came here, to get used to the kind of a North American style of hockey. And you know, like every time when we were here with the national team or whatever, I really like to play on the smaller ice. It kind of suits my game, so I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. I’m super excited for that actually.”

Family played a major role in his hockey journey. His father and older brother introduced him to the sport at an early age.

“I think the biggest, biggest part was family for sure. Uh, my dad used to be a part of this club in Prague, and my older brother played there actually at the time. So I think when I was 3 or 4 I was already on the ice, so yeah, there was actually no other way to play hockey. So yeah, I’m at the rink since I was really, really small.”

Representing Czechia at the World Juniors is also a goal for him.

“As I said before, like I will do my best to also get here or there. It’s the biggest, biggest goal for me and yeah, I got to have a good start of the season here in Kelowna and hopefully I will get there.”

There is also excitement about the possibility of playing alongside Rockets forward Tij Iginla when he returns from the NHL training camp of the Utah Mammoth.

“Oh, definitely, obviously this is a great player, you know, first round pick, that says everything, I think. Yeah, so I’m super excited when he comes back and that we can play together.”

Poletin’s English is also impressive, something that can be a challenge for European players.

“I would say it started with my mother. She speaks really good English and she always talked with me and my brother. And then when I moved to Finland, I was two years there, so I kind of had to speak English. So I think that was like the biggest game changer for me.”

He knows the WHL will be a challenge, but he is ready for it.

“I think I will get used to it pretty fast since I was with the Islanders now. So that was really fast and tough. But yeah, I’ve heard like this league is really, really hard and the guys are tough here, but I like that style of hockey, so I think that’s not going to be a problem for me.”