Blades defenceman Libor Hájek named to Czech Republic World Junior team

A member of the Saskatoon Blades will be taking part in the upcoming World Juniors.

Libor Hájek was named one of eight defenceman to the Czech Republic team for the tournament in Toronto and Montreal. 

The 18-year-old pivot is into his second season with the Blades,with one goal and ten assists in 29 games in 2016/17.

A second round pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016 (37th overall), Hájek is a six-foot-two foot tall defenseman known for his abilities in his own zone.

“He’ll be a shutdown guy,” Blades head coach Dean Brockman told NHL.com in a recent profile by the. said. “He’s just very solid in his own end. He’s going to be that steady guy. He’s got that escapability. He makes a great first pass. He wants to improve day in and day out.”

“He’ll be a shutdown guy,” Brockman said. “He’s just very solid in his own end. He’s going to be that steady guy. He’s got that escapability. He makes a great first pass. He wants to improve day in and day out.”

The Czech Republic will take on Canada in an exhibition game on Wednesday, Dec. 21. They open the preliminary round Monday, Dec. 26 against Finland. 

.@BladesHockey defenceman Libor Hajek named to Czech Republic team for #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/TgV3Hu1sTQ

— Ryan Brandt (@Ryan_Brandt) December 8, 2016