Far across the Atlantic, already knew of the 害羞草研究所� propensity for producing NHL-calibre defenseman.

So when the Western Hockey League club selected the Czech-born rearguard this summer in the 2017 CHL Import Draft, Zabransky was quick to commit to his new career path in North America.

害羞草研究所淥f course, Kelowna is one of the best places in Canada,害羞草研究所� said Zabransky, 17. 害羞草研究所淢y agent, he told me this is the best place for defencemen, there are lots of good defense coming from here, so that was a quite easy decision for me.害羞草研究所�

Zabransky brings with him some strong hockey bloodlines, rooted both at the elite level in Europe and in the NHL.

His dad害羞草研究所攁lso 害羞草研究所攑layed 40 games in the NHL in the 1990s with the St. Louis Blues, while his uncle, , played with five big-league North American teams, including three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers.

The elder Zabransky, who owns and coaches the HC Kometa Brno team in the Czech Republic, was able to provide some direction for his son in making a choice, but ultimately it was young Libor害羞草研究所檚 decision.

Between his childhood goal of playing in the NHL and the potential pressures of staying at home to play, Zabransky had two more concrete reasons for taking the Canadian major junior route.

害羞草研究所�(We) talked about what害羞草研究所檚 best for me. My dream is to play in the NHL,害羞草研究所� said Zabransky. 害羞草研究所淚 think I can learn here a lot, the Canadian style of hockey, because it害羞草研究所檚 very different in Czech. It害羞草研究所檚 more physical here.

害羞草研究所淚n Czech, the mentality is different,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淚f I play there, they look at me and say, 害羞草研究所極h, he害羞草研究所檚 the son of the owner.害羞草研究所� The other reason (for coming to Canada) is it害羞草研究所檚 the best league for juniors in the world.害羞草研究所�

A 6-foot-1, 180-pound skilled defenceman at both ends of the ice, Rockets head coach Jason Smith expects Zabransky害羞草研究所攇iven a little time to adjust害羞草研究所攚ill make a successful transition to the the North American game.

害羞草研究所淔irst of all, he害羞草研究所檚 very competitive and he knows the game well,害羞草研究所� said Smith. 害羞草研究所淗e can transport the puck and shoot the puck, and he害羞草研究所檚 able to defend as well. There will be a learning curve with the North American ice and the heavier schedule in his first full season, but he has all the tools. He害羞草研究所檚 excited about the challenge.害羞草研究所�

Zabransky, the Rockets 51st choice in the CHL import draft, is joined in Kelowna by one of his teammates last season on the Kometa Brno junior team. Forward Marek Skvrne, 18, was the Rockets害羞草研究所� second choice, 111th overall and is competing with Tomas Soutsal for the club害羞草研究所檚 second import slot.

Zabransky, who was injured this summer playing for the Czech team at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial U18 tournament, has returned to full health in time for this Friday害羞草研究所檚 WHL season opener at home to the Kamloops Blazers.

One month into his move, Zabransky couldn害羞草研究所檛 have asked for a much better introduction to Canada and the Okanagan.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 excited to play first game,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淓verything is perfect for me here, my billet, the coaches, the guys in the locker room are good. I like them and they are nice to me and the other Czech (Marek Skvrne). We are both excited.害羞草研究所�