No reasons to be disappointed in Vanecek’s first season in Hershey

At only 21-years-old, Vitek Vanecek had one of the best seasons a goalie could have at his age in the AHL. The young netminder went 18-10-7 in the regular season with five shutouts, despite a very rough month at the end of December through the end of January, where he went 0-5-2.

“I’ve said this to a number of people, you take out four weeks of his season, his numbers are excellent,” said head coach Troy Mann after the Bears game seven loss. “It’s unfortunate we played Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre for that stretch of hockey late-December and early-January.”

“It was good season. I feel good for my first season in AHL. I feel great,” said Vanecek during exit interview day Friday.

Despite playing 38 games this season, the Czech Republic native was not a full number one goaltender this season for Hershey, splitting time with Joe Cannata to start the year, then sitting for all but ten games after Pheonix Copley was acquired at the trade deadline. But a large workload in his first season at this level should bode well for Vanecek as he is pinned for the Bears number one job next season. “I play 38 games in season. That’s good for me because I was rookie, so I think it helps me for next season.”

Four of those ten games that Vanecek played after the trade deadline came during the playoffs. Vanecek played in relief of Copley, who was injured in game four of the second round. “I don’t think you can say we lost the series because of our goaltending,” said Mann after game seven. “I’m sure [Vitek] would like to have that one back [from game six]. He’s certainly not the reason we’re not moving on.”

Vanecek now has an offseason to prepare for his number one role in Hershey next year, but first has some repairs to do. “I go to Washington now for surgery in my eye, and then I go back to Czech. Hard work in summer and a little bit of rest.”