Jakub Vrana Named AHL Player of the Week

Jakub Vrana celebrates his goal in Hershey’s win Sunday night against Binghamton. (Kyle Mace / Chocolate Hockey)

Monday afternoon, the American Hockey League announce Hershey Bears forward Jakub Vrana has been named AHL Player of the Week for the week ending February 7th, 2016. Vrana had a great weekend for the Chocolate and White, scoring three goals and four assists for seven points, along with one dab.

Vrana returned to action a few weeks ago after missing over three months with a wrist injury. “I’m just trying to go shift-by-shift, two hundred percent every game and do my best,” Vrana said after Saturday night’s win over Lehigh Valley.

Hershey returns to the ice Wednesday night in a make-up game with Bridgeport.

Press Release:

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Hershey Bears left wing Jakub Vrana has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 7, 2016.

Vrana recorded three goals and four assists for seven points in three games as Hershey moved closer to the top of the Atlantic Division standings.

Vrana scored a goal and had at least two points in all three weekend games for the Bears, who are 9-0-2-1 in their last 12 contests. On Friday night in Binghamton, Vrana had a goal and an assist during Hershey’s six-goal second period and was named the first star of a 6-2 win over the Senators. On Saturday, Vrana scored again, tallied two more assists and earned second-star honors as the Bears defeated Lehigh Valley, 5-1. And on Sunday afternoon, Vrana picked up a goal and an assist and another second-star selection in Hershey’s 6-1 victory over Binghamton.

The 13th overall pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals, Vrana has five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 12 games for Hershey this season, returning to the lineup on Jan. 22 after missing nearly three months due to injury. A 19-year-old native of Prague, Czech Republic, Vrana made his North American debut with the Bears at the end of the 2014-15 season, tallying five assists in three regular-season games as well as two goals and four assists in 10 Calder Cup Playoff matches.

In recognition of his achievement, Vrana will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bears home game.