CZE: U17 Selects Reviews Part II

More reviews of notable players from the Czech U17 team from a recent three-game series against Finland including analysis of one of the better Czech 2007 draft-eligible prospects Vladimir Ruzicka, the son of former NHL'er by the same name.

Vladimir Ruzicka (2007), C

Played very well against the Finnish U17 team .. the son of former NHL’er Vladimir Ruzicka Sr .. sharp agility .. quick changes in direction and good turns .. skates with nice bursts of speed .. lower body strength needs to be improved; gets knocked off his skates a lot .. soft hands and very good hand-eye coordination .. excellent vision and hockey sense .. has the ability to control the play with his hands and anticipation abilities .. prefers to set up plays rather than to shoot .. has a quick release on the wrister but has to develop a greater variety of shots .. intensity wanders in his own end .. not small but skinny .. not yet very effective in traffic .. 89-born underager on the U17 squad .. very good chemistry with linemates .. drawing raves thus far.

Michal Kazatel (2006), C

Solid but unspectacular .. executes plays at high speed with nice agility .. adequate first step .. solid lower body strength despite smallish size .. good vision and hockey sense .. a deft playmaker; makes accurate and well-timed passes .. good positional instincts; knows where to go to finish off scoring chances .. above-average shooting skills, including a wrister with a quick release .. needs to unload the puck more often .. made strides in getting tougher but is not aggressive .. defensive play is improving .. needs to limit the opposing player’s options more effectively and return to his zone with more giddyup.

Martin Latal (2006), RW

Flashy winger haunted Finnish defensemen .. a very good skater with nice extra gear .. good acceleration and nice agility .. burns opposing defenders with nasty turns .. balance could use some work .. soft hands and excellent stick skills .. a force in one-on-one situations .. has a good variety of shots and considerable finishing skills .. quick, accurate wristers and snap shot .. defensive intensity lacks .. needs to add muscle to handle traffic more effectively .. can be pushed out of scoring lanes by stronger opponents .. best Czech offensive weapons against the U17 Finns.

David Vajda (2006), D

Smallish rearguard but can skate .. very good agility and solid laterally .. plays a smart two-way game .. loves to rush the puck .. qb’s the pp creatively .. needs to develop a harder point shot .. struggles to get some of his shots through from the point .. positionally solid in his own end .. bigger opponents really outmuscle him however .. not enough range to be anything special.

Jiri Jebavy (2007), D

Another 89-born underager on the U17 team .. a potential defensive stalwart .. decent skater; choppy stride .. adequate change of pace .. nice acceleration and solid balance .. good lower body strength .. okay lateral movement and decent turns .. pretty good with the puck but prone to the odd mistake .. exceptional positional game .. takes his man out of the play effectively .. very tough to beat one-on-one .. works hard down low .. takes his body well but isn’t intimidating.