David Hoda
Oct. 16, 1989
D
HC Jtrinec/Czech
6'2
198 lbs.
Elgible in 2008
From Eurohockey.net... http://www.eurohockey.net/players/sh...i?serial=90680
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David Hoda
Oct. 16, 1989
D
HC Jtrinec/Czech
6'2
198 lbs.
Elgible in 2008
From Eurohockey.net... http://www.eurohockey.net/players/sh...i?serial=90680
Sounds great to me. We really needed a good defenseman when you take a look at our roster because most of our current D-men aren't perfect. Hoda should really add to our blueline well and take up quite a few minutes. Wonder what kind of shot he has.
Chilliwack Progress
Quote:
Bruins snag talented D-man
By Eric J. Welsh,
The Progress
Jul 03 2007
The Chilliwack Bruins hit gold in last year’s CHL import draft, selecting an unheralded Swede by the name of Oscar Moller. He came over, had one helluva rookie season in the Western Hockey League, and got himself drafted by the National Hockey League’s Los Angeles Kings.
Now the Bruins are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle again with the addition of hulking Czech rearguard David Hoda.
Selected 10th overall in Tuesday’s CHL Euro extravaganza, Hoda’s skillset suggests he could quickly become Chilliwack’s No. 1 defenceman.
“He’s six foot two and weights 203 pounds,” said Bruins general manager Darrell May. “He plays a tough, aggressive game and he’s a good skater.”
Hoda brings something to the table offensively as well. In 41 games with his Czech team last season, the big blueliner had five goals and 22 points.
“He’s got a good shot,” May noted. “He’s very good on the power play. One person who’s watched him play compared him in style to New York Rangers defenceman Karel Rachunek.”
May liked his numbers and believes he could fit into a top pairing role on the Bruins. One area the GM wanted to address in the off-season was offensive contributions from the blueline.
After trading Stephane Lenoski to Spokane early last season, Chilliwack had no blueliner that was particularly adept at quarterbacking a power play. Returnee Nick Holden was adequate in the role, but May hopes Hoda is be an upgrade.
The one caveat will be how well Hoda adjusts to life in North America. Bringing European prospects to Canada is hit-and-miss because some can handle the culture shock and some cannot.
“We were fortunate with Oscar last year because he was pretty good with his English,” May said. “His personality helped him with his adjustment. Some of the Czech guys don’t speak any English at all. That puts them behind the eight-ball early.”
May jokes that he sent his assistant coach out to find a Czech to English translation dictionary and some learn-the-language tapes.
“We’ll be doing a crash course this summer to help this kid adapt,” May laughed. “I think they learn a lot once they get here just being around the players. It takes time. You just try to immerse them in the atmosphere.”
Hoda was a member of the Czech U-18 team for a stretch last season, and that’s where he first appeared on the Bruins radar. May said a team has to have a web of contacts to successfully find European talent.
“You see a lot of these kids at international tournaments,” May said. “You talk to NHL scouts. You talk to agents. It’s a network thing, but you never really know until you get them over here how they’re going to fit with the North American style of play.”
Of the 72 players selected in Tuesday’s draft, May estimated that only a half dozen or so will become impact players for their respective teams.
With the drafting of Hoda, Aki Kangasmaki is officially no longer a Bruin.
Chilliwack’s B.C. division rival, the Kelowna Rockets, had the most eyebrow-raising move of the import draft, selecting Mikael Backlund with their second pick, 43rd overall.
The Swedish prospect was selected 24th overall by the Calgary Flames in last weekend’s NHL entry draft, and if he came overseas he would immediately become an impact player for the Rockets.
But May doubts that will ever happen.
“My information is that he signed a two year contract to play in the Swedish elite league,” he said. “If that’s true, he can’t come over unless the Flames buy out that contract to get his rights. He’s not free and clear to walk away from Sweden unless there’s something going on that I don’t know about.”