As the old saying goes if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The Red Deer Rebels headed back to the Czech Republic at the 2021 CHL Import Draft, selecting Frantisek Formanek 14th overall.
Formanek, from Chrudim, Czech Republic, spent 2020-21 with four different teams. The 5-foot-9, 179-pound forward played three games with HC Dynamo Pardubice U17, scoring four goals and adding four assists.
Playing up a league, Formanek had one assist in three games with HC Dynamo Pardubice U20.
The professional HC Dynamo Pardubice also took a look at Formanek, where he scored a goal in his only game at the top level of Czech hockey. He became the first 2004-born player to score in the Extraliga.
Finally, Formanek played mostly for the Czech2 league’s HC Stadion Vrchlabi. He scored three times and added two assists in 22 games. He was also the first 2004-born player to score a goal in the ChanceLiga.
Frantisek Formanek with a beautiful goal in his #Extraliga debut.
Formanek was the first 2004-born player to score in the #ChanceLiga three months ago, now he has done the same in the top Czech league.
? https://t.co/kqA0No6rrn pic.twitter.com/wRw81RvOWs
— Czech Prospects (@CZprospects) March 7, 2021
In 2021, Formanek has averaged 8:02 per game of ice time at the professional level. He also recorded 19 shots on net.
Czech express
Red Deer has had success with players from the Czech Republic in the past. The list includes former captain Adam Musil. The Rebels had Musil for 251 games over four-plus seasons. Musil gave the team offense and muscle, scoring 65 goals and adding 97 assists while collecting 227 penalty minutes. Musil is now signed to play for HC Dynamo Pardubice for the 2021-22 season.
Michael Spacek was a dynamic force in Red Deer for 120 games over two seasons. Spacek scored at 1.16 points per game clip, finishing his career with 48 goals and 91 assists. After plying his trade with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, Spacek is set to play for Frolunda of the SHL in 2021-22.
