Beran making scouts take notice
The 18-year-old Czech-native seems to have found his stride in his first season of major junior hockey, and is putting up better than point-per-game numbers in Charlottetown.
Beran has 47 points and 48 penalty minutes through 44 games.
His 19 goals and 28 assists put him second in team scoring behind Ben Duffy, and fourth in the league among rookies.
“I think it’s very good for me,” Beran said of his point production. “Last year, I had not so good season, 25 points in 40 games. I think I play good this season and I need to continue.”
It didn’t take long for the 6-foot-5, 208-pound Swedish Elite League product to find his game in Canada. In fact, he believes the smaller rink size has worked to his advantage.
“It’s a bit different, because in Europe we have bigger rinks,” he said. “Here it’s small. But I like it small because it’s more offensive. For me, it’s good.”
Blessed with quick hands and a big frame, Beran started playing hockey at the age of four in his hometown of PlzeÅ, Czech Republic – population 170,000.
Last week, 14 years of hard work paid off when he found himself ranked 59th among North American skaters in the NHL’s 2012 mid-term draft listing, good for third-highest among QMJHL skaters.
“I hope I will be drafted,” Beran said. “That’s why I’m here. I must be better and better.”
Rocket head coach Gordie Dwyer said his first-line left winger has worked hard to get noticed.
“I think it’s well-deserved on his part,” Dwyer said of the draft ranking. “He works hard every day. He’s a young guy coming from another country, but he’s adapting well. He’s starting to make a little bit of noise now in the league. He came in kind of quietly, but his play’s been rising throughout the season and people are starting to take notice.”
Beran was selected by 35th overall by the Rocket in the 2011 CHL import draft, nine picks after his Czech countryman, defenceman Tomas Pavelka.
Pavelka was also ranked for the NHL draft last week, 126th among North Americans.
The two spend much of their time together, as both are staying with billets Jeff and Mary Anne Demone in Stratford, P.E.I.
At the hockey rink however, Beran is typically paired up with Duffy, his playmaking centre.
The two get along on and off the ice, and that’s been the key to their success, Duffy said.
“Anytime he has a concern or anything he needs, he comes to me to ask, and I think we kind of carry that on the ice with good chemistry,” he said. “It started to click at the start of the year and it’s just continuing.
“He’s a big kid so when he has the puck. He’s good at protecting it and it’s hard to get it away from him. He has a really quick release and a hard shot and I think that’s his strong point.”
Beran admits he needs to work on his skating to become a truly effective power forward.
“All my life, I wasn’t so fast,” he said. “I’m a big guy, but I need better skating. I need to get faster.”
Coach Dwyer continues to be impressed by Beran’s effective play for the Rocket (13-27-2-2).
“He’s big, he’s strong, and he gets the job done,” he said. “He’s got some offensive tools and he’s putting up points. He wants to be a hockey player. He’s here, and he’s committed. You can tell. He’s got a good personality and he’s adjusted well so far to being here and I think his play speaks for itself. He’s continuing to get better as the season progresses. If he keeps going this direction, I think he’s making people take notice.”
