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Radek Faksa’s journey to the NHL is the stuff of modern legend – although it’s interesting to note that NHL Draft classmate Esa Lindell had never heard it until last week.
The bones of the story are familiar to most fans: Faksa’s mother, Alena, made the wrenching choice to let an 11-year-old Radek move to a different city. The agreement with the HC Oceláři Třinec youth program provided her talented son with opportunities she would not otherwise be able to give him. But living 90 minutes from his family in the Euro-hockey equivalent of a Holiday Inn was about as hard for a child as it sounds, as Faksa told Sean Shapiro:
“The first two years was really tough for me because I was still young, and every time I was home I was pretty much crying,” Faksa said. “After the first season, I almost came back to my hometown because I was couldn’t handle it anymore. But my mom and GM for the team I played for, he gave me such good conditions and made such a great speech that made me stay in Třinec. I’m happy I did that.”
As Faksa grew up in a hotel, he dreamed of staying in Třinec and playing for HC Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Extraliga.
“I was never really thinking about the NHL because just few guys from the Czech make it,” Faksa said. “I was thinking about playing men’s league hockey there because that was the best league I knew. I never imagined I could make it this far (to the NHL).”
With the Dallas Stars, Faksa has long surpassed his goal of playing 100 NHL games. Now he’s second only to Tyler Seguin among the Stars’ top centers:
“He’s hated to play against; ask the top players who come into this barn or when asking people who do you not like playing against. A guy like Faksa always comes up,” Seguin said. “He’s always on the right side of the puck. Guy that competes hard. And it starts on the opening draw.”
There’s much more behind the paywall. [The Athletic DFW]
Stars Stories
Now that you feel good about the team, Sean is also here to rub your nose in last night’s shutout by the New Jersey Devils.
Tonight's Stars game in New Jersey featured some entertaining moments -- but while they made for good video, they resulted in negative outcomes for Dallas. @seanshapiro tells you all about that, and brings you other observations from a 3-0 loss https://t.co/1S5njHDUO0
— The Athletic (@TheAthleticDFW) October 17, 2018
Head coach Jim Montgomery says the team needs to adjust its intensity level on the road:
Matthew DeFranks looks at the monster that has haunted the team’s nightmares for too long: the specter of the road loss.
There are 39 road games remaining for the Dallas Stars. But the first two have stirred memories of the last couple seasons.
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) October 17, 2018
"That's something that we have to address. That's between the ears." https://t.co/VsVoZSsgnv pic.twitter.com/XGHUjp06KS
At least Jamie Benn’s 7 PIM and his fight with Miles Wood were fantasy-relevant, according to Ian Gooding.
Ramblings: Healthy Scratches, Hot Goalies (Oct 17) https://t.co/YQvZecmoKy pic.twitter.com/nwNZRbumdf
— Dobber (@DobberHockey) October 17, 2018
Early Fight of the Year candidate? Yes, of course you get the video.
Around the League(s)
Not the best night for #Murder:
- Henrik Lundqvist notched his 59th career shootout victory as the Colorado Avalanche lost on the road to the New York Rangers. [Blueshirt Banter]
- Connor McDavid decided to just do it himself, and the Winnipeg Jets took the L to the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in overtime. [Copper and Blue]
- But the Minnesota Wild benefited from a historically bad start by the Arizona Coyotes to win 2-1 at home. [Hockey Wilderness]
Marc-Andre Fleury joined some impressive company after the Vegas Golden Knights’ 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
Marc-Andre Fleury of the @GoldenKnights earned the 407th win of his NHL career to move into a tie with Glenn Hall for 10th place on the League’s all-time list among goaltenders. #NHLStats #BUFvsVGK pic.twitter.com/w6HHEs6UQr
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 17, 2018
Auston Matthews is on a scoring tear, and people are talking about it.
Despite being one of the league's top stars, Auston Matthews reinvented his shot, and with 10 goals in 7 games it's paying off. pic.twitter.com/9jY4xsQCie
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) October 16, 2018
The Carolina Hurricanes are off to a fast start, and young superstar Sebastian Aho is a big part of it.
Sebastian Aho is one of the best forwards in the world right now, writes @THNJaredClinton https://t.co/mA8BmjCz8E pic.twitter.com/TG4ps7dLup
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) October 16, 2018
Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park
The Texas Stars take on the Iowa Wild twice this weekend, and you can watch for free.
Every Friday night, live AHL action will be available for free on Facebook Watch on mobile, desktop and Facebook’s TV apps.
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) October 16, 2018
This week, you can watch your #txstars faceoff against the Iowa Wild!
Fans can also follow the @TheAHL to get games added to their Watchlists. pic.twitter.com/Nz1AqT7WvG
Meanwhile, Ringo the Ringtail has a competition of his own on Thursday.
T-minus 3 days until I strut my stuff on the runway at the inaugural #MrBCRC2019 Competition! #LocallyPink
— Ringo the Ringtail (@TXStarsRingo) October 15, 2018
My competitors don't stand a chance.
Click the link https://t.co/d6kuORJdpf if ya wanna watch my runway performance in person. I WILL NOT DISAPPOINT. pic.twitter.com/TbfpIm2IU4
Finally
The banner meme is not only still here, it’s spreading. Enjoy.
If every NHL team raised a banner . pic.twitter.com/Tmuj8UBV5B
— Jillian Fisher (@FisherJillian) October 16, 2018
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