Through hard work, Reichel earns entry-level contract with Jets

WINNIPEG -Kristian Reichel has earned every opportunity he's been given, which is what made June 15 so satisfying.

The product of Litvinov, Czech Republic signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets just four days after his 22nd birthday.

"It feels amazing," Reichel said. "It was huge excitement when I found out the Jets gave me an offer. It was huge excitement for me and my family."

His father, Robert Reichel, played 830 games in the National Hockey League for four different clubs after being selected by the Calgary Flames in the fourth round of the 1989 NHL Draft.

Kristian's path wasn't as easy.

He spent the majority of his younger years playing in Czech Republic, representing his country at the World Under-18 tournament during the 2015-16 season, serving as an assistant captain. Reichel also wore his country's colours at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in 2017 and 2018.

That 2018 season was also the first time Reichel played in North America. It was his lone season in the Western Hockey League, where the right-winger posted 34 goals and 57 points in 63 games with the Red Deer Rebels.

Those numbers earned him a one-year deal with the Manitoba Moose to start the 2018-19 season, his first at the professional level. He recalls Moose head coach Pascal Vincent talking with him early in camp.

"When I came into the first camp, he gave me a lot of advice with his coaching staff. He was very helpful," Reichel said. "He's a great coach. I think one day he will coach in the NHL."

Reichel played 55 games that season, scoring twice and finishing with 10 points. He signed another one-year deal and despite an injury early in the 2019-20 season, Reichel's game took off in the second half of the season.

He scored 12 goals - five of which came in the last seven games before the American Hockey League season was paused - and finished with 17 points in 39 games.

"I played big minutes. Pascal trusted me. I got a chance and I grabbed it," said Reichel, who enjoyed playing on a line with David Gustafsson and Kristian Vesalainen. "We were playing pretty good at the end. Unfortunately the season got paused right when we were getting some chemistry. The games we played, we played good, and we helped the team win."

The AHL season was officially cancelled on May 11, meaning Reichel had to shift his focus to next season.

It's difficult to project when camp will open for the 2020-21 campaign, but one thing is for sure - Reichel will be ready.

"I'm trying to schedule it so I'm ready when training camp starts - maybe it will be January, maybe December - but I'm trying to prepare," he said. "So when that point comes, I'm ready to prove that the Jets signed me for a reason."