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Sidney Crosby and Stephen Dixon are the only active QMJHL players on the Canadian roster at the 2005 World junior Championship. However, there are eight QMJHL players among the rosters of Russia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Alexander Radulov (Quebec Remparts) is a key player for Russia. The talented forward told Hockey’s Future in the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks that he was unsatisfied with the game he has played against the USA. Nevertheless, he said "I’m very honored to represent my country to this great event." 

The 2004 first selection of Nashville has scored two goals so far.

Four QMJHL players for the Czechs

Forwards Zbynek Hrdel (Rimouski Oceanic), Petr Vrana (Halifax Mooseheads), David Krejci and Michal Kvapil (both Gatineau Olympics) are all defending the colors of the Czech Republic.

With two goals and one assist, Vrana (New Jersey, 2^nd round, 2003) is the Czech co-leader in points along with Rostislav Olesz (Florida, 7^th overall, 2004).

Kvapil (undrafted) has two points. Krejci (Boston, 2^nd round, 2004) and Hrdel (Tampa-Bay, 9^th round, 2003) have one point apiece.

Hrdel told Hockey’s Future after his team practice on Tuesday December 28^th that he was thrilled to play at the World Juniors.

"I had the chance to chat with Sidney [his Rimouski teammate] a couple of times here in the arena. Sid and I are close friends. If we ever play against each other during this tournament, I’ll be very excited."  

Halak, Zagrapan and Lascek lead the Slovaks

Goaltender Jaroslav Halak (Montreal, 9^th round, 2003) didn’t play his best game in the 3-7 game against Canada on December 25^th, yet he came back strong against Finland two days later with a shootout in a 2-0 game victory.

"Compared to our first game, we were better in all aspects of the game," commented Halak.

"When I gave up rebounds, my defensemen were quick to get the puck. We played together tonight, it was an easy game for me," added the best goaltender of the 2003 U-18 World Championship and now Lewiston MAINEiacs member. 

Marek Zagrapan, a 2005 NHL draft eligible player, missed that game due to an injury. Slovak coach Gregor Dusan didn’t want to comment Zagrapan’s injury, only saying that he should be back in the line-up later in the tournament.

Zagrapan, who is ranked third in the QMJHL in the preliminary Central Scouting Bureau ranking, scored a goal against Canada and played very well despite his team’s loss. He has 42 points in 30 games so far in the QMJHL, placing him second, behind Radulov, for the leading rookie scorers.

"I think that he is correctly ranked," Rimouski Saguenens president [and Dallas Stars special assistant GM] Guy Carbonneau told HF during the game against Finland in Thief River Falls.

"He skates very well and has great hands. He has only played half of a season in the QMJHL, so I think that if he can still improve his game in the second part, he will go soon in the next NHL draft.”   

Asked if his friendship with Zagrapan’s agent and former Montreal Canadiens teammate Petr Svoboda has helped to convince the Slovak kid to play with Rimouski, Carbonneau answered while slightly smiling, "Zagrapan was on the list of many CHL teams before the European draft last summer but, well, the fact that I have a great relationship with Petr has certainly helped.”   

The other QMJHLer playing for Slovakia is Stanislav Lascek. The 6’0 and 187-pounder was named the Slovak Player of the Game against Canada.

However, the third overall QMJHL leading scorer before leaving for the Team Canada’s final evaluation camp didn’t play well against Finland two days later.

Dusan told HF he was disappointed with Lascek play on Monday December 27^th.

Lascek recognized that his coach was right. "I didn’t play well tonight. Zaggy [linemate with  Rimouski] was not with me tonight but whoever I’m playing with, I should play well."

Though he had a good regular season last year and played very well in the finals, Lascek remained undrafted last June.

"I have the chance to show to the scouts here at the WJC what I’m capable of and I hope that I will have the chance to be drafted next year," Lascek said.

The Chicoutimi president was surprised and upset that Lascek was undrafted. "He was the second rookie leading scorer last year, only Crosby did better than him," observed Carbonneau.

"Sure, his skating isn’t the likes of Ovechkin or Zagrapan for example, but he has many other skills. The Chicoutimi Sagueneens management hopes that he will be drafted next year,” concluded Carbonneau.

Simon Richard is the author of La Serie du siecle, Septembre 1972, a book about the Summit Series published in 2002.
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