Drancak making positive strides as Rebels’ newest import
You might say that Samuel Drancak is right on schedule.
The Red Deer Rebels forward, selected in July’s CHL Import Draft, is becoming more comfortable with his new surroundings, teammates and perhaps most importantly, the pace of WHL games.
“I think every game is better for me. I get new experience and I feel better every game,” the 17-year-old product of Strakonice, Czechia, said Thursday.
Life away from the rink has also been good to the six-foot, 183-pound winger.
“I have great billets and food is amazing,” he said.
On the ice, Drancak has built chemistry with linemates Kalan Lind and Carson Latimer, but he’s still adjusting to the smaller skating surfaces — as opposed to the wider ice in Europe — and the pace of play at the major junior level.
“The ice is smaller than (in) Czechia,” he said. “This is faster and no time (to react) like at home, it is more physical. Players here are more faster and I think better than home. For me it’s really great.”
Rebels head coach Derrick Walser likes how Drancak uses his intelligence to his benefit during games.
“He’s a very smart player, his IQ is off the charts,” said Walser. “You have to understand he’s been playing in big rinks his whole life so he’s starting to move his feet when he gets the puck.
“Sometimes on the bigger ice you have a little bit more time to evaluate. Here it’s a lot quicker. I like the line combination. He and Lind and Latimer have been playing very well.”
Drancak scored twice and added an assist in four preseason games but needed six regular season contests to find the back of the net, potting a pair in a 4-3 shootout loss at Regina last Friday. He added his first assist in Tuesday’s 4-0 win in Edmonton.
“In preseason I score some goals and some points. When season start I not feel great,” he said. “Finally we are scoring now and I feel a little more confident.”
Drancak played with HC Motor Ceske Budejovice of the Czech U17 League last season and was the league’s second leading scorer with 65 points, including 17 goals, in 34 games.
He also racked up 12 points at the U20 level and suited up for two games with HC Motor Ceske Budejovice in the Czech pro league.
So is he a passer or a shooter, or both?
“That’s a hard question. Last season I was more passer but now we have our line with Lind and Latimer and every player are like faster and are scorers,” he replied.
Drancak has represented his home country at the international U16, U17 and U18 levels in recent years. He scored once and registered one assist in the World U17 Challenge last year in Langley and Delta, BC, and in August recorded a goal and assist in five games as Czechia fell to Canada in the final of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup played in his home country and Slovakia.
Now he’s learning to adjust to a new life far from home, to a game that offers new challenges.
“The language barrier, getting comfortable being away from home . . . it’s not easy,” said Walser. “But his English is pretty good and again, we have to keep chatting with him, getting involved.
“The guys seem to like him and I’m really happy with Lind and Latimer. I see them communicating with him a lot on the bench and that helps.”
Notable: The Rebels face the Hurricanes Friday in Lethbridge (7 p.m.) and host the Saskatoon Blades Saturday at the Peavey Mart Centrium (7 p.m.) . . . Red Deer will be minus the services of two players — defenceman Hunter Mayo and forward Jeramiah Roberts — for a stretch. Mayo suffered a foot laceration in Sunday’s 5-2 win at Edmonton and is listed as week-to-week on the WHL injury report, while Roberts took a high hit from Reid Larson in Red Deer’s shutout win over the Oil Kings Tuesday. The checking to the head major and game misconduct also earned Larson a four-game suspension from the league office. Roberts’ return date is unknown.
