HC Slavia Praha (Prague) plays in the 14 team Czech O2 Extraliga. This season, they finished right in the middle, 7th, over the 52 game regular season schedule. The Czech Republic continues to be one of the top non-Canadian feeder countries to the Ontario Hockey League. Year after year, hockey hopefuls from the European nation come to Canada in hopes of getting drafted to the NHL. Often, they return to the play in the Extraliga which is highly ranked by the IIHF. HC Slavia Praha housed 5 Ontario Hockey League Alumni during the 2009-10 season.
Jiri Drtina started his OHL career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2002-03 but ended the season with the Guelph Storm. His final season was played with the Storm in 2003-04. He has been with HC Slavia Praha ever since, providing solid defense for the club.
Vladimir Roth played two seasons in the OHL, 2007-08 and 2008-09, both with the London Knights. This is Vlad's first season with the club's A team after growing up in the system.
Karol Sloboda also played two seasons in the OHL, 2001-02 and 2002-03, both with the Ottawa 67's. In his second season, he had a great playoff run as the 67's made it to the final before losing to eventual Memorial Cup champions, the Kitchener Rangers. As a defenseman, Karol added up 18 points in 23 playoff games. The native of Bratislava, Slovakia has played his full professional career in either his home Slovakia or in the Czech Republic.
Lukas Havel was an original Brampton Battalion, playing for the club in 1998-99 as well as the two following seasons. Lukas put up consistent numbers with the Battalion over his three years and made an appearance at the 2001 World Junior tournament. He has played his entire professional career in either Slovakia or the Czech Republic.
Tomas Kurka played for the Plymouth Whalers for the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons. Kurka is the only one of the five OHL grads on HC Slavia Praha that has played any professional hockey in North America. Tomas was a second round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2000. He appeared in 17 games over two seasons with the Hurricanes before heading to Europe for the 2004-05 NHL strike season. He has played in Finland, Sweden and his home Czech Republic.
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