'It's a dream come true'

NASHVILLE - Nothing - not even a cancelled flight and nary a change of clothes - was going to stop them from celebrating a day like this.

Just like their son, Martin and Monika Honzek had to face their share of adversity first.

"To be honest, draft week has been pretty bad. Until now," Samuel Honzek laughed Wednesday night after being selected by the Flames with the 16th pick in the NHL Draft. "My parents got stuck in New York with no flights, so they had to drive 12 hours to here with no baggage. For them, it was a really tough week.

"That made it pretty stressful, because I really wanted them to be here with me.

"But from this moment, it's going to get better.

"They're really proud of me and they helped me get to this point. I'm happy they made it and we can celebrate together."

And what a party it promises to be.

Honzek - the ninth-ranked North American-skater - was buzzing when he left the draft floor, describing the moment when he heard his named called in vivid detail.

"I still can't feel what's happening," he said, shaking his arms and absorbing the hubbub happening behind the scenes at Bridgestone Arena. "My emotions are everywhere right now. It's hard to speak. This is the moment I've been waiting for my whole life. Now, it's here.

"It's a dream come true."

The Flames, too, have to be thrilled with the selection. Honzek had been on their radar for some time, and when you drill deep into the scouting reports, it's clear by why this player offers a unique - and highly attractive - blend of size and the silkiest of hands.

Honzek made the trek to North America last year after scoring 14 points (10G, 4A) with his hometown club in Slovakia's highest level, which was largely made up of players 10 to 15 years older. He then made an immediate impact with the Vancouver Giants, collecting 56 points (23G, 33A) and being named a finalist for the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy for WHL Rookie of the Year.

Along the way, he was tested at every turn.

The 6-foot-4, 194-lb. centre was badly hurt when he had his leg stepped on at the IIHF World Junior Championship. He battled back and returned to the Vancouver lineup in mid-February, but was then knocked out of another four games thanks to a high hit from Kelowna forward Carson Golder in March.

In all, he missed 23 games in his most important season to date.

But he wasn't about to be kept down.

He never has.

"It was hard - a couple injuries," he explained. "But I thought to myself, 'Hey, this is part of hockey. With my personality, it just helped me. I'm a really strong person and my mindset is really strong. So, if I say something to myself, I always achieve it. Even with an injury, I just told myself that I would be playing after the injury like I have to, and I'll be in the first round."

Honzek finished the year with 11 points (6G, 5A) in his final 12 games of the regular season, before adding another four points (1G, 3A) in as many playoff games.

Perseverance, personified.

And clearly, a learned trait from his parents who let nothing stand in their way, either.

Honzek is an athlete in every sense of the word. He's dedicated to his craft, both on and off the ice, testing through the roof at the NHL Scouting Combine earlier this month. His agility markers were especially impressive and when you consider the towering frame housing all that power and quickness, this is a player with all the physical tools to be a force in this league.

Honzek knows that to be true more than anyone else.

And he's determined to make that a reality.

"I'm a really good player on both sides of the puck," he said. "Good offence, good defence. I'm a guy who will do whatever the coach tells.

I'll do everything at my best, whether it's fourth line or first line.

"I'll help the team as much as I can, in any way that I can."