Robin Sapousek will get to experience the full length, and at least part of the breadth, of North America when he flies from the East Coast to the western portion of the continent to join the Victoria Royals on Friday night in Spokane, Washington, after playing for Czechia Thursday night in the world junior hockey final against host sa国际传媒 in Halifax, N.S.
The Czech forward, however, is expected to be sat out of the Victoria game against the Chiefs in Spokane and will make his Royals debut on Saturday night in Kennewick, Washington, against the Tri-City Americans where he could be facing a couple of Czechia teammates who play for Tri-City — goaltender Tomas Suchanek and centre Adam Mechura.
Sapousek began the world junior semifinal 2-1 overtime victory against Sweden on Wednesday as the 13th forward but ended up playing 11 minutes and seven seconds, which is more than any of the fourth-line Czech forwards, and that might speak volumes about the emerging 18-year-old.
“It isn’t the amount of minutes he was given in such a big game, but the types of minutes, such as late in periods,” said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price.
“It shows how dependable and responsible he is, especially as an 18-year-old on a Czech junior national side that likes to rely on 19-year-olds.”
Sapousek, who has one assist in the four Czechia games he has dressed for in Halifax, committed to the Royals in November. The left-shooting natural centre was taken seventh overall by Victoria in the 2022 Canadian Hockey League import draft in July. The six-foot-one forward began the season in his homeland with Karlovy Vary HC U-20 and scored nine goals with 18 points in 11 games to earn a seven-game call-up to the professional HC Energie Karlovy Vary club of the Czech Extraliga.
Sapousek’s current appearance in the world juniors also continues a trajectory in international play. He appeared for Czechia in the 2022 world U-18 championship in Germany, where he competed against soon-to-be Royals teammates Brayden Schuurman and Kalem Parker in beating sa国际传媒 in overtime in group play, and in the 2021 U-18 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in Alberta, in which the Czechs placed fourth.
“We are very proud of him because it’s a great accomplishment to make the world junior tournament as an 18-year-old,” said Price.
“That shows his readiness, as does having already played pro with men in the Czech Extraliga, and having developed a pro style. He is a very complete 200-foot player who can perform in any situation.”
Each CHL major-junior team is allowed two European imports. Sapousek will became the Royals’ second in the category, joining veteran forward Marcus Almquist, who rejoined the Royals this week and scored the winning goal Tuesday in Kelowna, after representing Denmark in the IIHF Tier-1 world junior tournament which took place in Norway.
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