NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Tigers Czechian forward Vasyl Spilka takes his solo rookie lap ahead of the Tigers' 7-4 win Friday night at Co-op Place over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
After months without getting into a game, Vasyl Spilka is ready to show what he can do.
The Czechia forward was in the Medicine Hat Tigers’ lineup Friday night to make his Western Hockey League debut against the Edmonton Oil Kings.
It’s a game Spilka has long waited for as he’s been sidelined since the offseason due to a shoulder injury suffered while preparing for the U18 Hlinka Gretzky tournament. Now, he’s ready to get into the WHL and make an impact with the Tigers.
“I didn’t play for three months so at the beginning it was really hard to get back the conditioning,” Spilka said. “But I think I am ready to play and am looking forward to it.
“It’s a pretty special organization with so much history, I’m so happy to be here.”
The Tigers selected Spilka 87th overall in the 2023 CHL Import draft, he joins Latvian defenceman Bogdans Hodass as Medicine Hat’s two import players for the season.
While working his way back from the injury, the 17-year-old has practised with the Tigers and was able to skate out for an introduction during the home opener on Sept. 23, an experience that meant a lot to him.
“It was amazing for me, we don’t have that in Czechia,” Spilka said. “It was amazing to see the crowds and the fans, it was very special.”
Spilka describes his style of play as a power forward, he likes to play in front of the net and win the puck battles on the wall. He isn’t one to talk a lot about his own play, preferring to showcase it instead.
“I’m going to show my game on the ice.”
Spilka played 22 games for Czcheia at the international level last season, putting up eight goals and 10 points. He played 25 games at the Czechia U20 level, registering six goals and 19 points while also recording 21 goals and 45 points at the U17 level.
Spilka was one of five Tigers named on the NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list for the 2024 NHL Draft. He was listed as a player with limited viewing, the only on the list, due to his shoulder injury.
Being included on that list is something Spilka says is a honour and a motivational tool.
“It just means I have to put in more hard work and it’s my job to go higher, but the most important thing for me is to help the team win,” Spilka said. “But I would be lying if I say I’m not looking at the rankings.
He was projected to play alongside rookies Kadon McCann and Brett Calhoon for his first game. Spilka says he’s enjoyed getting to know the Tigers’ youngest players and has spent a lot of time with them and his billet brother, Hunter St. Martin.
“The guys are so friendly and nice to me, they are helping me a lot,” Spilka said.
