The VHLNow.com Pre-Draft Interview – Jan Hlozek

[Bojovnik 487]

VHLNow.com - Jan Hlozek Pre-Draft Interview 

 

The Chicago Phoenix players are still partying after lifting the Continental Cup just two days ago, but front office staff across the VHL are rushing to get all their preparation in done for Friday's VHL Entry Draft. Czech defenseman Jan Hlozek is one player who burst onto the scene in the VHLM S76, and VHLNow.com sat down with the Topolna native to get his thoughts as he waits for his name to be called.

 

Many rookies get their start in the VHLM once the trade deadline has passed, although Hlozek was unable to join up with the Saskatoon Wild until the offseason due to visa issues. After a slow start, in which the offensive defenseman scored just one point in his first 10 games, Hlozek became a regular contributor and finished the season with 13 goals and 46 assists.

 

Despite his personal success, Hlozek said that he was disappointed he couldn't help the team improve on its fifth placed finish in the Western Conference.

 

"Looking back on the season, I think it was both good and bad. I would have wanted to started better, but it took me some time to adjust. We lost a lot of games at the start of the season but really started playing well towards the end. Of course, you always want to make the playoffs, so to miss out on that opportunity was disappointing," Hlozek, speaking from his family home in eastern Czech Republic, said.

 

The Topolna-born defenseman rose up the draft rankings throughout S76, going from a relative unknown to an almost-certain first round pick. As of one week ago, Hlozek sat in 12^th place in the VCHS draft rankings, and Hlozek said that he felt growing numbers of eyes on him as the season progressed.

 

"I didn't know what to expect coming over. I didn't know what the VHL or VHLM was, how the system worked. Mr. Landry @Doomsday just sent me an offer and I thought, why not? It was only as I started to play well that scouts started appearing, media outlets wanted to talk to me, asking me about the draft. It's been a crazy situation," he said.

 

Several prominent mock drafters have also agreed with the scouting service's ranking, as @Bobo and @RedSus tipped Hlozek to go 10^th and 12^th overall, respectively.

 

Read Bobo's mock draft here and RedSus' mock draft here

 

Hlozek admitted that several teams have been in contact to hold interviews with him before the draft, although the Czech defenseman said that he was unwilling to provide any information as to which teams showed interest.

 

"Some teams have spoken with me. It's been interesting to find out what they want to know, the sort of questions that they ask. I mean, one team asked me some question about a duck and some horses, and I was super confused, but I guess that's what they try to do, get you thinking about something else, or something that you haven't prepared for," Hlozek said.

 

VHL teams have been highly active since the trade freeze was lifted, and a number of teams have swapped first round picks meaning that the draft order today looks very different from how it was one week ago.

 

The Helsinki Titans pick twice between 9 and 12, and the Malmo Nighthawks, Moscow Menace, HC Davos Dynamo, and Vancouver Wolves all have selections in and around the time many predict that Hlozek will be chosen.

 

"Look, I'm not going to say that I want to go to a certain team, because I know so little about them. I don't have the resume, the history, or the tradition of guys who have family members playing in this league. I'm the first guy from eastern Czech Republic to come over here, so for me, it's less about the history and more about the fit with the team. However, would it be nicer to live closer to home, where my family and friends are, after a year in North America? I would be lying if I said no," Hlozek remarked.

 

Hlozek is also one of a number of players who will be selected in the VHLM Dispersal Draft, which is set to take place later in the offseason. The Czech blueliner is almost certain to spend S77 in the minor leagues, and appeared to have a much stronger opinion on where he wanted to be playing next season.

 

"I'd be disappointed if I don't end up back in Saskatoon. I loved my time there, the fans were great, and I would love to be on that time and help continue the work we did at the end of last season. The team deserves playoff success, and I think I can be the person to bring it, so I'm really hoping that I get to go back there next season," Hlozek said.

 

The Topolna native also said that the extended offseason has given him time to work on several areas of his game that needed improvement.

 

"I wasn't ready for how physical the league was going to be, so I've spent a lot of the off-season in the gym, working on getting stronger. I want to be in perfect shape for when the next season starts. I've also put in time on the ice as I know that if I want to make the next step, my skating needs to be better, my shooting needs to be better," Hlozek remarked.

 

Hlozek may not be discussed in the same breath as the stars of the S77 draft class, such as Duncan Idaho (@OrbitingDeath ), Paul Atreides (@Mr_Hatter), Zeedayno Chara (@Jubis) or the Reinharts (@rjfryman and @Ricer13), but the Czech blueliner certainly has a point to prove and is eager to make a name for himself on the global stage.

 

For now, he faces three more days of waiting before finding out his draft fate, adding that his whole village was behind him.

 

"I'm from a small village, maybe 100 people maximum. Everyone there is asking the VHL is, everyone is trying to watch the games. It's crazy. I just want to make them proud, wherever it is I end up," Hlozek concluded.

 

Spoiler

Claiming for weeks ending 14.03, 21.03 (1,020 words)

 

Edited March 9, 2021 by Bojovnik

[Smarch 3,230]

Review: Good predraft interview. What I enjoyed most was it was not a straight question and answer, but had some quotes from Hlozek throughout the piece. Glad you enjoyed yourself and were able to put in the work to become a 1st round VHL pick. You’re in great hands in Riga.

 

Good article, glad to know more about Hlozek then I died before. 

 

9/10

[Bojovnik 487]

Claiming week 2 (+ doubles)