Ruzicka enjoy warm Wheaties welcome

Filip Ruzicka is starting to feel at home with the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The six-foot-seven, 230-pound netminder from Trinec, Czechia, whose English skills are rapidly progressing, said his teammates certainly made him feel like he belonged.

“They’ve been very good,” Ruzicka said. “The boys welcomed me here very well. I thank them, the whole team.”

Wheat Kings head coach and general manager Marty Murray has certainly noticed a change in the youngster, who didn’t arrive in Brandon until Sept. 29 as his former club battled his transfer. The situation was resolved, but by that time the goaltender had missed training camp, the pre-season and the start of the regular season.

“I think he’s getting more and more comfortable every day,” Murray said. “Obviously the language barrier is a big thing. He speaks well enough in English for sure, but it’s probably intimidating, especially coming a month into the season.

“It’s different when you can arrive when everybody else does. I’m sure he feels a little bit behind the 8-ball as far as getting to know players, but I think he’s adjusted well and is showing more and more personality every day.”

He was especially appreciative of the players, who helped Ruzicka after he arrived. But Murray wasn’t surprised at how they took care of the newcomer.

“We have a real good group of people, first and foremost,” Murray said. “They get along well, and they look out for each other. They were very welcoming when Filip came and understood he’s coming from a foreign country into a new locker room and new environment.”

Brandon took the 17-year-old Ruzicka with the 104th pick of the Canadian Hockey League import draft in July. Ruzicka was just the second goalie Brandon has selected, following another Czech netminder, Jiri Patera, back in 2018.

While the position is the same in both countries, there are some big differences between the games in Czechia and Canada that Ruzicka is working on with Wheat Kings goaltending coach Tyler Plante.

Since he grew up on the wider European ice, the angles of shots can be very different, and he said North American shooters are more apt to let it fly from anywhere.

“It’s good,” Ruzicka said of his progress. “It’s not 100 per cent good but we train on this with Tyler.”

He was beat on a wraparound in his debut on Oct. 10, and it’s readily apparent he learned from it, as he now rushes to cut off the far post with his long legs.

Ruzicka earned the team’s first victory of the season that night, making 18 saves in a 4-3 win.

“My first game was good,” Ruzicka said. “The players helped me very much. I thank them and I hope it will continue in a winning stride.”

In four appearances this season, he has a 3.67 goals-against average and a .869 save percentage, with the latter number more of an indictment on the opportunities his team is allowing than his play. He admits his strength lies in his size.

“I’m big, so this is the most important thing with me,” Ruzicka said.

If there was any doubt at all, Ruzicka knew he was here to stay for sure when the team reassigned 18-year-old goaltender Hudson Perry on Wednesday. The Czech netminder now shares the crease with veteran Jayden Kraus.

Ruzicka started playing hockey when he was five and after two years as a forward, went back into the net when he was seven.

“I didn’t like skating much, so I wanted to be in goal and stop the puck,” Ruzicka said of his decision to be a netminder.

He has a younger brother, who also plays hockey but isn’t a goalie.

The lanky goaltender played with the U17 Mountfield HK last season, posting a 1.80 goals-against average, .943 save percentage, and a 23-15-0 record in 38 appearances. He also saw action in four games with the U17 Czech national team, with a 2.98 save percentage, an .882 save percentage, and a 2-2-0 record.

Another welcoming part of coming to Brandon was defenceman Adam Hlinsky was already here. The two didn’t know each other in Czechia, but Hlinsky’s presence has been important for both.

“It feels nice,” Hlinsky said of having another Czech speaker. “I’m glad I can help him out a little bit with everything, and getting him adapted here. It’s been pretty good.”

“He’s an amazing guy,” added Hlinsky, who has been out of the lineup since Sept. 27 but is skating and may return to the lineup soon. “He’s pretty chill and good to talk to. We have a good time together.”

Ruzicka, whose English isn’t as polished as a Dominik Petr or Patera, is certainly thankful for Hlinsky.

“It’s very nice,” Ruzicka said. “Every club in Czech, you have Czech guys, so it’s very good. We talk so much.”

The one player in the league he knew previously could be someone he faces this weekend. Moose Jaw’s lineup includes forward Dominik Pavlik, who also came through the Mountfield HK system.

Brandon faces Moose Jaw on Sunday afternoon at 4 o’clock after meeting the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday at 6.

“It’s nice,” Ruzicka said. “I hope we win because I really want to make funny after the game when we win.”

In this age of ready and instant communication, it’s a lot easier and incredibly less costly than it once was to call home. The only significant problem is making it work on both ends, although he still calls.

“I try to every day, but the time is different,” Ruzicka said. “In Europe it’s seven hours ahead, so it’s hard.”

» pbergson@brandonsun.com