Samuel Honzek Explained

Samuel Honzek
Birth Date:12 November 2004
Birth Place:Trenčín, Slovakia
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:186
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
Prospect Team:Calgary Wranglers
Former Teams:Dukla Trenčín
Draft:16th overall
Draft Year:2023
Draft Team:Calgary Flames
Career Start:2020

Samuel Honzek (born November 12, 2004) is a Slovak professional ice hockey left wing currently playing for the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1]

Playing career

Honzek played parts of two seasons of professional hockey for HK Dukla Trenčín of the Slovak Extraliga before coming to North America to play for the Vancouver Giants in the WHL in order to decrease his time needed to be NHL ready.[2] Regarded as a top prospect in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, he was drafted 16th overall by the Calgary Flames.[3]

On July 26, 2023, Honzek signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Flames.[4] During an NHL preseason game for the Flames on October 4, 2023, Honzek sustained a lower body injury, causing him to miss the first 25 games of the 2023–24 WHL season.[5] Upon his return, Honzek was named the captain of the Giants, and recorded 7 points in his first five games before leaving the team to participate in the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[5]

International play

Honzek has represented Slovakia twice at the IIHF World Junior Championship. During the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Honzek was forced to leave the tournament early after being cut by a skate; an injury that sidelined him for 6 months. He was also a member of the Slovak team at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where his team captured a silver medal.[6]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2020–21HK Dukla TrenčínSVK U204 1 1 2 2
2020–21HK Dukla TrenčínSlovak5 0 0 0 0
2020–21HK Spartak DubnicaSlovak.18 4 1 5 4
2021–22HK Dukla TrenčínSVK U205 1 6 7 01 0 1 1 0
2021–22HK Dukla TrenčínSlovak49 10 4 14 84 0 0 0 0
2022–23Vancouver GiantsWHL43 23 33 56 164 1 3 4 0
2023–24Vancouver GiantsWHL33 10 21 31 185 2 0 2 2
2023–24Calgary WranglersAHL2 0 0 0 01 0 0 0 0
WHL totals76 33 54 87 349 3 3 6 2

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2021SlovakiaHG184 0 0 0 0
2022SlovakiaU18 D1A1st54260
2022SlovakiaWJC9th40004
2023SlovakiaWJC6th20002
2024SlovakiaWJC6th53142
Junior totals2073108

Notes and References

  1. News: Cosentino . Sam . Bukala . Jason . June 28, 2023 . Prospect of Interest: Why Samuel Honzek has potential to be a steal in Round 1 . Sportsnet .
  2. News: Masters . Mark . June 26, 2023 . Honzek refused to let injury derail first-round dream . TSN .
  3. News: June 28, 2023 . Flames pick Samuel Honzek 16th overall at NHL draft . The Globe and Mail .
  4. News: Erickson . Josh . Flames Sign First-Round Pick Samuel Honzek . Pro Hockey Rumors . July 26, 2023.
  5. News: Kierszenblat . Adam . Vancouver Giants Samuel Honzek Makes A Statement In Return From Injury . The Hockey News . December 11, 2023.
  6. Web site: Honzek za Ružičkom, Čech Šalé i kat Slovákov. Kto prišiel na rad po Dvorskom? Flashscore.sk . www.flashscore.sk . 29 June 2023 . sk.