Stefan's play with the Ice Dogs has opened many eyes. The Edmonton Ice drafted him 2nd overall in the Import Draft, but he wanted to play against higher competition. After playing 27 games with Sparta Prague in the Czech Elite League he signed a 25 game contract with the Dogs so he could play during the Olympic break. But after the Olympics ended, he decided to remain with the Dogs and probably will play there next season. Ice Dog's GM/Coach John Van Boxmeer has given the rookie sensation regular shifts and power play time, and Stefan has responded. Van Boxmeer is most impressed by his passing and playmaking abilities. "He's going to be a dominating, playmaking center," he said of the 6-foot-3 195 pounder."He's a guy who looks to make the play rather than shoot himself. He'll be a guy who can get 100 assists and 20-25 goals in the NHL.
I (Andrew Cary of Hockey 2000) had the opportunity to watch Stefan play in several games and came away very impressed. The puck always seems to find him when there is a scoring chance and he made numerous crisp, tape to tape passes. Stefan needs to work on his physical play. Too often he reaches for the puck and tries to steal it from and opposing player without taking the body. He also needs to gain some upper body strength. He looks really skinny and he almost weighs 200 lbs! Stefan should be ready to step in to the NHL right away in 1999 because he will be almost 19 when the season begins and will already have played 1-1/2 seasons of pro hockey. Watch for Stefan to perhaps go #1 next year.
STATS Year TEAM GP G A P PIM 97-98 Long Beach Ice Dogs (IHL) 24 5 10 15 10 97-98 Sparta Praha (Cze.) 27 2 6 8 --- 97-98 WJC-Czech Rep. 7 1 1 2 4
Stefan, projected to be a top pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, has started the season looking as such with two goals and five assists in seven games through 21 Oct. Augusta, the veteran of seven professional seasons, has three goals and four assists in seven games.
Stefan left the Czech Republic in mid-season last spring and joined the Ice Dogs roster in February. He appeared in 25 games, netting five goals and 10 assists. "I came [to the IHL] because his league is more similar to the NHL," Stefan says. "The ice is [smaller] than in the Czech Republic and there is more hitting, more fighting. Plus this is a different lifestyle than back home."
Just beginning his second professional season and with a keen eye on this June's NHL draft, he thinks he made the right move. "I think it was the right decision," he says. "I'm not sure whether I would have played with my old team in Czech [Sparta Prague] or if I would have played Junior. This way, I know I'm playing [in Long Beach] and I see more teams, better competition and it gives me a chance to learn more English and adapt to the lifestyle here."
Stefan, a 189-cm., 98-kg. (6' 2", 215-pound) centerman, missed being eligible for the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by one day and is slated to be one of the top picks in the 1999 Draft. With the lofty expectations comes the pressure to live up to them. "I feel a little pressure before a game," he admits. "Once the game starts, I just want to play the best I can and help the team. I'll worry about [the draft] after the season."
Augusta likes what he sees in his linemate. "Patrik is going to be a good hockey player," Augusta, who welcomed Stefan into his Long Beach home when the youngster came to North America last season, offers. "He is still young but you can see that he has a great desire and work ethic. [Because] he is young, he is going to make some mistakes, but he is just unbelievable with the puck. He is a great puck-handler and a great skater. I wish him the best and I'm almost sure he will make it big."
While Stefan surely has such aspirations, his immediate goals are simpler. "My plan is if I score the first goal of the game, I want to score the second goal," he says. "If I score the second goal, I want the third one." With that attitude combined with his natural skills, expect Stefan to be scoring goals in the NHL very soon, and for years to come.
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STEFAN SCORES 4 IN 5 POINT NIGHT!
PATRIK STEFAN, the 18-year-old centre recorded the first 4-goal game of his pro career, added an assist, and finished plus-5 in the Ice Dogs' 8-7 shootout win over the Cincinnati Cyclones. Stefan, with 7 goals and 10 assists, is now second in the IHL scoring race First Period 1. Long Beach, Stefan 4 (Nemecek) 1:21 2. Cincinnati, Joseph 6 (Macleod) 7:55 3. Long Beach, Augusta 8 (Stefan, Roach) 18:47 Second Period 4. Cincinnati, Morrow 6 (Kjenstad, Henderson) 2:16 5. Cincinnati, Nielsen 2 (Dandenault, Ashtashenko) pp 8:59 6. Cincinnati, Patterson 1 (Biggs, Macleod) pp 18:45 7. Long Beach, Stefan 5 (Matteucci, Augusta) 19:05 Third Period 8. Long Beach, Stefan 6 (Augusta, Roach) pp 6:53 9. Long Beach, Stefan 7 (Matteucci, Augusta) 7:12 10. Long Beach, Williams 2 (Rosa, Jobin) 9:52 11. Long Beach, Byce 2 (unassisted) 11:31 12. Cincinnati, Kjenstad 1 (Morrow, Joseph) pp 15:09 13. Cincinnati, Dionne 3 (Shevalier, Simon) pp 16:03 14. Cincinnati, Joseph 7 (Shevalier, Biggs) pp 18:14 |
The time on the disabled list means that Stefan will most likely miss the 1999 World Junior Championships in Winnipeg. A clause in his contract awarded Stefan the chance to play for his native Czech Republic. Stefan is disappointed with the circumstances, but is trying to put it in perspective. "It's unbelievable," he said. "I am very disappointed that I am injured, but what can I do? Right now, I just want to make sure that I am 100% percent healthy before I come back."
Stefan, 18, who had 23 points in 20 games, may not be back until March. He had a mild rap on the head earlier this year. This one was a huge hit, with Stefan caught with his head down. He's had a couple of MRIs which appear normal but he's having dizzy spells and waring a neck brace.
"We're being ultra-cautious here... we could be talking about a $50-million to $100-million NHL carrer," said Winter.
Stefan, who's been scouted about a dozen times by Atlanta GM Don Wadsdell and also had dinner with him, is the leading kid to go No.1 in June
along with Swedish forward Daniel Sedin. But if Stefan falls down the list because of the concussion, so be it.