Vitek Vanecek excited for All-Star game opportunity

When Vitek Vanecek was informed of his selection to the AHL All-Star game by head coach Spencer Carbery, the Hershey Bears locker room erupted in cheers and applause. 

“I was so happy when he told me that,” Vanecek said about his reaction to the news. “Then the guys congratulate me, so it was [a] good time.”

The Czech netminder is now getting the opportunity to appear in his first All-Star event in his career when he heads to Springfield, Massachusetts at the end of the month.

“It’s first time, you know? First time is best time,” Vanecek said with a smile.

Vanecek received his second AHL Player of the Week award in late October and has been having one of the most successful campaigns of his career so far with a 8-7-2 record and a 2.64 GAA, good for 12th among qualified goalies in the AHL. “I feel good. The guys are working hard for me. They [are] blocking shots and I [am] trying to help them.”

While Vanecek is excited about his personal achievement, he hopes Hershey beings to turn things around for a playoff run. “We are not [in a good spot] to try and get to the playoffs. I hope we start winning now and we get to the playoffs.

“January and February are big for us. We need to win a lot of games, and I hope we will.”