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Former Albertan Czechs in

By RANDY SPORTAK, QMI Agency, Dec 20 2011

CALGARY – David Musil’s heart is all Czech.

Don’t kid yourself, Canadian blood is pumped through it.

Make that, true Alberta blood.

Musil, the hulking defenceman pegged to be a big part of his country’s squad at the world junior hockey championships, was born while his father, Frank, played in Calgary for the NHL’s Flames and lived in Edmonton a few years before his family returned to their homeland.

“I was pretty young here in Canada,” said the 6-foot-3, 205-lb. blueliner who skates for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. “I have some memories from Edmonton, people, watching my dad play, school.”

Musil, 18, didn’t suit up for his country’s 7-1 exhibition win over Latvia Tuesday night in Okotoks in anticipation of the tournament, which begins Boxing Day in Calgary and Edmonton, but his team didn’t need the defenceman chosen 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers last summer.

Tomas Hyka scored twice while Jiri Sekac and Petr Holik each collected a goal and two assists to lead the Czechs before the crowd of 1,043 at the Centennial Arena.

Dmitirij Jaskin, Tomas Nosek and Daniel Pribyl added singles.

Arturs Kuzmenkovs replied for Latvia, who trailed 1-0 halfway through the affair thanks to great goaltending from Kristers Gudlevskis, who stopped 25 of 26 shots before giving way to Elviss Merzlikins.

Latvia isn’t in Canada’s pool, while the Czechs open the tournament against Denmark Dec. 27 at Edmonton’s Rexall Place.

But rest assured Musil, who has one goal and 16 points in 35 WHL games this season, is anticipating the Dec. 28 clash with Canada.

After all, the Canadians are coached by his bench boss in Vancouver, Don Hay.

“It’s really exciting, not only to play against Don Hay but Brendan Gallagher, my teammate in Vancouver. I’m really looking forward to that game,” Musil said. “And not just because of that. For me, it’s always a big challenge playing against Canada and I’ve always looked forward to those games. Growing up in Czech and being born here, always gets me going a lot.”

As much as Musil is amped to face Canada, though, he and his teammates have plenty more to focus on.

The Czechs have finished in seventh place in each of the last two tournaments, but could be in the mix for a medal.

“We’ve got to bond as a team, play the best we can. That’s all we can do, “ Musil said. “We’ve got a pretty tough group, but every game is winnable, we just have to play our best.

“It’s up to us.”

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
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