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Slovak Extra League - Junior Players In Regular Season 2000-01
Written by: Daniel Kysel on 03/20/2001 
Name Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM Tomas Surovy Poprad 53 22 28 50 +3 30 Michal Ruzicka Skalica 55 12 10 22 -16 16 Martin Drotar Kosice 44 10 8 18 -13 16 Michal Macho Martin 37 5 10 15 -5 12 Lukas Hvila Poprad 51 7 8 15 -8 89 Stefan Fabian Kosice 45 4 10 14 -8 41 Tomas Slovak Kosice 43 5 5 10 -9 28 Tomas Starosta Trencin 53 4 3 7 -3 16 Peter Gajdos Kosice 24 4 3 7 -8 8 Alexander Valentin Kosice 32 3 3 6 -9 20 Ladislav Gabris Trencin 49 2 3 5 -10 32 Peter Sivak L.Mikulas 36 1 3 4 -5 14 Martin Zajac Trencin 49 0 3 3 +7 20 Ondrej Kavulic Zvolen 13 0 3 3 -2 6 Pavol Hruby L.Mikulas 30 1 1 2 -7 8 Richard Stehlik Skalica 45 1 1 2 -7 14 Lukas Srnka Trencin 14 0 1 1 +2 4 Jozef Lukac Kosice 12 0 2 2 -6 8 Tomas Jurco Poprad 37 0 0 0 -7 14 Karol Sloboda Trencin 22 0 0 0 0 0 Martin Labaj L.Mikulas 27 0 0 0 -12 4 Ivan Kolozvary Trencin 14 0 0 0 0 2 Marek Grill Skalica 14 0 0 0 0 0 Lukas Bokros Trencin 12 0 0 0 -2 2 Lubomir Pisar Martin 25 1245 min. 2,96 GAA 0,875 SAVHKM Zvolen
This is a strange team for me. Players under 25 have a small chance to play regularly. Peter Sevela (G, 1983) is an adept for national team for WJC U18 and skated in several games. Czech import Ondrej Kavulic (F, 81) shined mostly in junior league.
Slovan Bratislava
This team miss good 18-19 year old prospects. Oliver Maron (D, 83) and Tomas Jasko (F, 83) are solid prospects but for next seasons. By the way Jasko played just in two games but scored 3 goals and added 1 assist.
Dukla Trencin
As I mentioned several times this team is the best Slovak supplier of players for the NHL. This season Trencin picked out other solid youngsters. Tomas Starosta (D, 20.05.81, 6’1” 193 lb) is one of the best junior defensemen of the league. He plays his position well, is effective in offensive as well as defensive games, good skating ability and hockey sense. He took part on WJC U20. Other player from national team U20 is Ladislav Gabris (D/RW, 18.03.81, 5’10” 178 lb). Smallish D-man who likes physical games. He skated as forward in last 10-15 games and played pretty well also on that position. Martin Zajac (21.09.81, 6’1” 229 lb) is other solid D-man. He was ranked by CSB in last year. Well-built player with solid defensive style. However Martin has played less shifts than Starosta and Gabris. Others: Rado Sakalas (D, 81), Lukas Bokros (F, 82), Lukas Srnka (F, 82). Karol Sloboda (D, 83) #90 in CSB ranking, proved his talent in several tough games. Ivan Kolozvary (F, 83) #79 in CSB ranking, big prospect but skated mostly on junior league.
SKP Poprad
Tomas Surovy (C/W, 24.09.81, 6’1” 191 lb) was not drafted only due to stupid administrative mistake in last year. Now he is CSB #35. No doubt he is the best junior and rookie of the league. Very valuable in each situation, no weakness. I expect he will be invited by coach to national team before World Championship in April. If he has shown all his skills on WJC U20 he could be ranked among European top 10 prospects. Lukas Hvila (W, 30.11.81, 5’8” 173 lb) - smallish, speedy winger and aggressive player (sometimes too much). Tomas Jurco (D, 04.12.81, 6’0” 189 lb) solid D-man. His time will come.
HC Kosice
Tomas Slovak (D, 05.04.83, 6‘1“ 191 lb) is top Slovak prospect, #19 according to CSB Euro ranking. He adapted pretty well to senior hockey. Good skater, strong on his skates, good and accurate slap shot, amazing progress. I like his style. I expect his name in 2nd or 3rd rounds of this year draft. Stefan Fabian (D, 10.02.81, 5‘9“ 178 lb). I like him too. Clever player, plays his position well, solid passer. He is other top junior D-men of the league. Unfortunately he miss a few inches otherwise he was an NHL prospect too. Alexander Valentin (D, 23.04.81, 5‘11“ 195 lb) other solid D-man. He was ranked by CSB in 1999, took part on last WJC. He missed about 20 games due to injuries. Martin Drotar (LW, 05.11.81, 5‘11“ 178 lb) winger of first line, solid two-way player. Drotar and Valentin have won gold medals with national team on World Universiade in Poland. (Slovakia has defeated Canada in the final.) Peter Gajdos (F, 82) good size but mostly on junior team. Jozef Lukac (D, 82) other gifted D-man who played on team but only on the end of season and proved his talent.
HK 36 Skalica
Michal Ruzicka (C, 01.11.81, 6‘0“ 163 lb) good skater, accurete passer and future sniper of Extraliga, reads play well. He needs more muscles to play more physical style. Richard Stehlik (D, 22.06.84, 6‘4“ 210 lb) - BIG prospect. I do not know any 16-year old defenseman who has skated regularly in Slovak leagues. Excellent size, strength and hockey sense make him one of the biggest Slovak prospect in last years. Impressive adaptation to senior level. Remember his name. Marek Grill (F, 81) smallish winger, his time will come.
HK 32 L. Mikulas
Pavol Hruby (F, 81) was ranked by CSB in 1999. He played many games but mostly only several shifts. Peter Sivak (F, 81) has seen more ice time than Hruby and shown more efforts.
MHC Martin
Michal Macho (C/W, 17.01.82, 6‘1“ 169 lb) is gifted kid and no wonder San Jose has picked him out in last year. Due to ankle injury he missed about 15 games as well as WJC. Solid playmaker, good desire and attitude, able to pass or score. Lubomir Pisar (G, 04.02.81, 6‘2“ 195 lb) is the best junior goalie playing in Slovakia. He played on WJC as well. His numbers are not such amazing but do not forget he has played on the weakest team of the Extraliga. He recorded one shutout. Good size and reflexes. Maybe he can follow Matus Kostur (drafted in 7th round by NJ in last year) though he is not ranked by CSB yet.
Copyright 2001 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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