Vitek Vanecek’s mindset is still the same: win a championship

For Vitek Vanecek, his fourth year in Hershey isn’t any different from the last three years. The goal: a championship. “It’s really like the same every year, you know? You’re trying to stop the puck.

“The players, they are better and better every year,” said Vanecek in an interview with Chocolate Hockey earlier this season. “I need to get more focusing, and I’m trying to stop the puck.”

The 2014 second-round pick is caught in a goaltending log jam with the Washington Capitals. 2015 first-round pick Ilya Samsonov won the backup position in DC this season, beating out Pheonix Copley and Vanecek. But for the 23-year-old netminder, his focus hasn’t changed

“You know, I just want to win the games and get to the playoffs. That’s the first step.”

Trying to help Vanecek reach the goal of another playoff birth is one of the strongest Bears lineups in recent years. “I think we have a really good team. We have skills, guys, good defense. So I hope we will be together. And then we will try winning the games.”

Head Coach Spencer Carbery has gotten to see Vanecek’s development since coming to the United States to play in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays.

“I have had a front-row seat to see his transformation on and off the ice,” Carbery said in an interview. “It’s been incredible to see how far he has come not just as a goalie, but as a person.”

Although Vitek would have liked more of an opportunity in the NHL this season, he has been a solid netminder that the Bears can rely on.

“I think up to his standard, he would tell you he would have wanted to be a little better in his start this season,” Carbery commented. “But being a coach, I think our goaltending as a whole and [Vitek] personally, it has been pretty solid thus far in the season.”

Vanecek has been and will continue to be a huge asset to Hershey’s hockey club. Washington has a good, reliable goaltender down in Chocolate Town that will be ready for his next call up.