Rebels' Import Draft Selection Has Excelled While Competing against Older Players
June 30, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Red Deer Rebels News Release
Clearly, a lack of height hasn't affected Frantisek Formanek in a negative fashion.
In fact, the five-foot-nine forward was able to compete against players twice his age last season while suiting up in the pro hockey ranks of his home country as a 16-year-old.
The 17-year-old from Chrudim, Czech Republic, was selected by the Red Deer Rebels as the 14th overall selection in the CHL import draft conducted on Wednesday, his combination of grit and talent impressing the Rebels staff.
"He's not tall but he plays big," said assistant GM Shaun Sutter. "He's a fast guy with skill so in a nutshell we really like his drive and his talent.
"Even though he's not a tall guy we feel he can come and be kind of a dynamic player in our league."
Formanek put up big numbers as a 14- and 15-year-old with HC Pardubice in the Czech youth leagues, sniping 38 goals and collecting 73 points in 38 games at the U16 level and recording 56 points, including 32 goals, in 30 games in the U17 loop. He also racked up a total of 133 penalty minutes.
He played at four different levels in the 2020-21 season, but mostly with Stadion Vrchlabi of the Czech 2 league. In 17 games with the second-division pro team he notched three goals and added two assists.
Formanek, who weighs 176 pounds, also scored once in his lone game with Dynamo Pardubice of the men's top tier Czech league.
"He played with men, that's why his numbers weren't gaudy last year," said Sutter, who caught wind of the player and then witnessed his talents via video.
"We watched a lot of video on him. In some ways he might be an unknown but we really liked him and all of our research suggested that he would fit the criteria for what we were looking for."
Most importantly, Sutter stressed, Formanek has indicated he will report to the Rebels in time for September's training camp.
"Brent (Rebels GM) talked to both him and his agent and we know that he wants to come play for us.
"Hopefully he'll be here in September. We'll get going with everything right away. Whenever we draft a European player we send him an invitation letter and get his contract and transfer card."
Western Hockey League Stories from June 30, 2021
- Silvertips Select RW Niko Huuhtanen of Finland, Second Overall in the 2021 CHL Import Draft - Everett Silvertips
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- Bocharov to Represent USA at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup - Saskatoon Blades
- Americans Select Moravec in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Tri-City Americans
- Hitmen Select Two Players in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Calgary Hitmen
- WHL Clubs Select 32 Players from 12 Countries in 2021 CHL Import Draft - WHL
- Cougars Select Two Players in CHL Import Draft - Prince George Cougars
- T-Birds Select Alessandro Segafredo and Leon Okonkwo Prada in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Broncos Add Forward and Defenceman in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Swift Current Broncos
- Tigers Select Two in 2021 Import Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Rebels' Import Draft Selection Has Excelled While Competing against Older Players - Red Deer Rebels
- Chiefs Make Two Picks in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Spokane Chiefs
- Mallette Inks Extension - Kelowna Rockets
- Victoria Royals Select Sebastian Wraneschitz in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Victoria Royals
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- Winnipeg ICE Bolster Defence in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Winnipeg Ice
- Wheat Kings Select Forward from Belarus - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Roman Makarov Selected by Blazers in CHL Import Draft - Kamloops Blazers
- Rebels Select Frantisek Formanek in Import Draft - Red Deer Rebels
- Pats Pick Kemell 32nd in CHL Import Draft, Suzdalev 95th Overall - Regina Pats
- Rockets Select Szturc In Import Draft - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Select Robert Baco in 2021 CHL Import Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Winterhawks Select Defenseman Marek Alscher in CHL Import Draft - Portland Winterhawks
- Oil Kings Select Jakub Demek in CHL Import Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Giants Select Golden Knights Prospect Jesper Vikman in the 2021 CHL Import Draft - Vancouver Giants
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