A Hockey Dream Comes True

Czech Republic forward Petr Novak got to live his lifelong dream of playing hockey in the United States last season

CANAZEI – From the day Petr Novak laced up his skates and took to the ice to play hockey, he had only one dream: to play in the United States.

“It was my dream since I started to play hockey… I just wanted to try that type of hockey. I wanted to study and try for a year and maybe try it again next year,” he said.

He played the 2012-13 season in the Western States Hockey League, a Junior A league with teams from the Southwest and Western regions of America.

Novak played 34 games with the Seattle Totems, registering 36 points with 25 goals. He was then traded to the Southern Oregon Spartans, where he logged six assists in 11 games.

Petr Novak in action on the ice in Canazei

The 21-year-old had to return home because his Junior eligibility was over. He says he hopes to return to North America next season and play professional hockey, or go to university.

The student from the Charles University in Prague is now part of the Czech Republic team at the Winter Universiade in Trentino. Despite playing on the fourth line, Novak has more experience than many of his teammates, which he believes is a benefit on the ice.

Novak says there are many differences between playing hockey in Europe and North America, and he has brought his newly acquired skills back to the Czech Republic, where he is playing for HC Kobra Praha in the Czech3 league. Those same skills have also given him an edge in the Universiade.

“I learned more physical hockey. In Europe it is more technical but in the United States it is more physical, hard hitting and faster,” he said.

Matt Tidcombe, FISU Young Reporter