Rzavsky Focused And Ready For Final Playoff Run
April 6, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Topeka Pilots News Release
Topeka RoadRunners Forward Daniel Rzavsky
(Topeka Pilots)
Veteran forward Daniel Rzavsky of the Topeka RoadRunners knows his junior career is winding down. The Slovakian forward from Bratislava turns 21 this month, making this his final year of junior eligibility. With his team placing 2nd in the NAHL South and earning a bye weekend, Rzavsky has been gearing up for the postseason matchup with Wichita Falls. He led the RoadRunners this season in goals (22), power play goals (9), and game winning goals (6). He was third on the team in overall points (46) and tied for third in plus-minus (+16). In last year's postseason he put up 10 points in 11 games and he will be looked on to contribute this year as well. He was honored this season as a co-recipient of the team's annual "Offensive Player of the Year" award.
Rzavsky joined the RoadRunners in the 2013-14 season, playing in 18 games and notching 11 points. "My agent called me and told me there was an opportunity to come to Topeka", he recalls. "I had been thinking about coming to North America to improve my game and try to earn a college scholarship. I looked at the Topeka roster and saw a couple of Slovakians were playing there. I contacted them and they encouraged me to come because it was a great place to play." With only a short couple of days to mull over his decision, Rzavsky packed his bags for Kansas and within a week was a RoadRunner.
Last season's postseason is a treasured memory for Rzavsky. "The way this team stuck together through some tough times is something I had never experienced before", he said, recalling the teams NAHL South Division playoff title. "In fact, every day, being a part of this organization teaches me something and helps me grow. I'm grateful for my time here." His head coach and GM Scott Langer has great things to say about him. "Dan is a highly talented young man", Langer states. "He does things at a pro level in ways you don't often see in this league. He skates well and can really shoot it." Asked about Rzavsky's quest for a Division I college deal, Langer responds, "I'm not sure if college guys have stayed away because of being a European player, but he's certainly a Division I caliber player." He adds, "He plays in all situations for us and he plays with a ton of jam to his game. He's going to be a great pickup for someone."
Rzavsky (6'1", 190 lbs.) first took to the ice when he was 5 years old, spurred in part by the success of the Slovakian national team and their Gold Medal in the 2002 Men's Ice Hockey Championships in Sweden. He began playing hockey at school within the year, by age 6. Fast forward a dozen years, and the dynamic left hander was chasing his dream half a world away. The shift to the North American style was seamless for Daniel. "The style is certainly different", he said. "I knew I wanted to bring my European style and blend it with the North American style and I feel I've been successful."
While it is late in the year, Rzavsky remains confident, knowing that Division I opportunities are still out there for players who can produce. He plans to pursue a degree in Management and Business. But for now, he remains intently locked in on the task at hand. "Right now, I am just focused for the first puck drop in the playoffs against Wichita Falls. I feel a sense of responsibility for this team and I'm driven to give my very best for Coach Langer, so I will do all I can to put this team on my back along with the other veterans and go as far as we can. Getting a college offer would be just icing on the cake. If we play as a team and make some noise in the playoffs, there will be plenty of opportunities for us guys who are still seeking a D1 scholarship."
Images from this story
 Topeka RoadRunners Forward Daniel Rzavsky |
 Topeka RoadRunners Forward Daniel Rzavsky |
North American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2015
- No Panic in Bobcats - Bismarck Bobcats
- Playoff Excitement Building for RoadRunners - Topeka Pilots
- Rzavsky Focused And Ready For Final Playoff Run - Topeka Pilots
- IceRays Weekly - Corpus Christi IceRays
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