Nothing’s new with Canadians moving to Europe to ply their trade in Europe. Large numbers of Canadians are all but rare in the Nationalliga A, DEL and the Elite Ice Hockey League, but the Czech Republic has always been a league that’s been rather tepid for North American players. In seasons past, very few, if any North Americans were playing in the Czech Republic, a league which has always favoured using home grown talent compared to other leagues. Most Czech teams only sign the best of the Slovakians, if they sign foreign players at all, however, this offseason saw some of the first North Americans to move to the Czech Republic in a long time. It was Martin Straka’s HC Plzen 1929 that started the trend, by using all three of their import slots to sign three Canadians, Doug O’Brien, Mark Bomersback and Tyler Schofield. The plan for Plzen looks to have worked, as Plzen, who almost went bust last year are now sitting atop of the Czech Extraliga, thanks mainly in part to the play of Martin Straka and Tomas Vlasak, but Bomersback has nearly a point per game in the Extraliga, with 32 points in 35 games. This is certainly a shock to the system, as the Canadians have always been seen to be too rough for the Czech style of play, but Plzen has kept faith with his Canadians, and they are certainly are paying off.
HC Eaton Pardubice also followed suit, signing American Jeff Jillson to martial their blue line, and the tough defenceman is certainly imposing his physical style on his Czech opponents. Just this week, HC Slavia Praha made two signings to try and give the team a boost after a paltry one win in nine games. Coach and GM Vladimir Ruzicka has just signed two North Americans, picking up Noah Clarke from Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland, and all signs are pointing to them being the team that picks up Darcy Campbell from TPS.
Foreigners have always been a rarity in the Czech Republic. Only a few names have gone over there and made a real impact. Liberec have Finnish goalie Tero Leinonen under contract, after he signed mid way through last season with the White Tigers, and French defenceman Yorrick Treille is mid way through his second season with HC Vitkovice STEEL. HC Kometa Brno have netminder Sasu Hovi as their starter, after he took over from the aging Jiri Trvaj, but Hovi is no stranger to that part of the world, being HC Slovan Bratislava’s goalie for 2 and a half years.
So why the influx of North Americans into the Czech Extraliga? Who knows. I for one can only suggest that it must be down to the money, and the North Americans are signing for a country that’s had a strengthening currency for the past five years, and they can maximize their pay check. You cannot deny that they are having an impact, but looking at the top players in the Czech Republic, the league is still brimmed with prime Czech talent, even considering that the best players will always flock to Russia to make ten times what they can in the Extraliga. The big names of the Czech Extraliga are always the ones that are most likely to move to Russia, and there’s no doubt that the likes of Roman Cervenka, Petr Leska, Tomas Vlasak and Ladislav Kohn will receive offers to have a shot at the KHL.
As a lot of you will know, I’m not exactly fond of the North American style of hockey, but the North Americans in the league have certainly been a good addition. After seeing Plzen play at Zlin, Bomersback was by far the best player for Plzen, and they are relishing their chance to play in one of the best leagues in Europe.
Whether the trend will continue, I’m not sure. The DEL and NLA will always have more money than the Extraliga, and tend to be viewed as a better moves in terms of standard of life than the Czech Republic, but the Czech Extraliga, in my opinion is the tightest and most exciting league in the world, and certainly my favourite one to watch.
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