VOORHEES, N.J. - The Flyers may have done something unusual in last week’s NHL Draft: they added another 6-foot-5 goalie from Czechia to a pipeline that already includes Dan Vladar.
Martin Psohlavec, taken in the second round at No. 62 overall, got his first taste of Flyers life Friday night during Development Camp at the Flyers Training Center. He was in goal for Team Briere in a 6-5 shootout win over Team Jones, a scrimmage that doubled as a crash course in the pace and skill level around him.
For Psohlavec, it was a chance to see players such as Porter Martone and Alex Bump up close. Soon enough, he’ll also get the chance to be around Vladar when training camp opens in September, giving the two Czech goaltenders a familiar connection in a locker room far from home.
Draft night itself was a moment Psohlavec won’t forget.
“I got the call from my brother, called my mother and she was already crying,” Psohlavec said with a smile. “I jumped into the car and rushed to celebrate with them.”
Philadelphia’s goalie group from Czechia doesn’t stop there. The Flyers also selected Marek Sklenicka, a friend of Psohlavec’s, in the fourth round, giving the organization three Czech netminders to work with.
That connection runs deep between Psohlavec and Sklenicka, who have known each other since grade school and spent years pushing one another in youth hockey.
“We played competitive hockey when we were little,” Psohlavec said. “From like 10 years old.
My mother told me that we would be good together. We had a great childhood together.
We were pushing each other a lot so it was a fun time.”
As for the chance to learn from Vladar, Psohlavec sounded every bit like a young goalie trying to absorb as much as possible.
“It’s incredible,” Psohlavec said. “It’s like a dream come true. Didn’t even expect to be drafted, to be honest, until maybe the fifth or sixth round.
“So it was a big surprise for me. I’m just happy to be joining him (Vladar).
He just signed a five-year contract (extension). I can look up to him, like he’s a great role model.
I’m really watching his game a lot. Everything’s great.
It’s exciting.”
The numbers helped explain why Philadelphia liked him more than many draft rankings suggested. In the Czech Under-20 League, Psohlavec went 31-11-0 with a 1.92 goals-against average.
He and Vladar also are expected to sit down soon, maybe over lunch, and talk about what comes next.
Back home in Czechia, Vladar has become a star on another level.
“When you are from Czechia and you play in the NHL, you’re like a god,” Psohlovec said. “He’s a great goalie, everybody knows that.
He was in the Olympics, too. He’s a great guy.
Everybody in Czechia loves him and respects him.”
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