Czech mate.
The Prince George Cougars made their move Thursday in the Canadian Hockey League import draft and captured the services of 17-year-old forward Matej Toman.
The smooth-skating native of Ceske Budjovice, Czech Republic, played for his hometown under-18 team in the Czech junior B league last season and averaged better than a point per game with three goals and 15 points in 11 regular-season games.
He also collected six goals and 13 points in seven playoff games, leading his team to the league championship.
Toman was called up to the under-20 team and continued to produce, with eight goals and 14 points in 25 games.
As a five-foot-10, 168-pound winger, Toman played 15 games for Ceske Budjovice in the Czech men's (Tier 3) league and had two goals and an assist.
At the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in November 2017 in Dawson Creek/Fort St. John he led the Czech team with three goals in six games.
"He's a skilled, fast player weighted to the offensive side that is a very promising prospect that we're lucky to get," said Cougars general manager Mark Lamb. "I've never seen him play but from what I've heard he's a really good skater with a lot of offensive upside. He wants to be a professional hockey player and he's doing all the right things. That's why he wants to come over and play in the CHL in Prince George. He's all in."
Lamb called Toman on the phone Thursday morning and said he is a fluent English speaker.
"Now, if you're a hockey player, these agents get them young and they get them lessons and they start working on English when they're very young," said Lamb. "Obviously it's a big adjustment but they sure have the resources and the skills to get by."
As expected, the Cougars passed on their second-round choice, 65th overall, electing to keep 19-year-old winger Vladislav Mikhalchuk. CHL teams are limited to a maximum of two European players on the roster.
Lamb and the Cougars will get a chance to see Toman in action playing for the Czech Republic at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton and Red Deer, Aug. 6-11.
Formerly the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, this will be the second time in its 27-year history the event will be hosted in Canada.
Castlegar/Nelson hosted it in 1996. Canada has won the tournament 20 times.
