CHL notebook: Hurricanes prospect Vondras developing with Sudbury

Future NHL stars are developing in the Canadian Hockey League this season. Each week, NHL.com will highlight a few of the top NHL-affiliated prospects in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League.

Jakub Vondras needed a change in his development path, so when he saw an opportunity to play in North America this season, the Carolina Hurricanes goalie prospect jumped at it.

Vondras signed with Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League on Aug. 1, moving away from his family in the Czech Republic for the first time.

"At [rookie camp] in Carolina last year, I played some games and I really liked the style of hockey here and I know I will play a high number of games here," Vondras said. "So that was the biggest reason. The quality of this league is really good. You have a lot of games here, so I really like the style of the hockey. So that was the biggest reason."

Selected by the Hurricanes in the sixth round (No. 171) of the 2022 NHL Draft, Vondras is 4-3-0 with a 2.12 goals-against average, .912 save percentage and one shutout in seven games. He's allowed two goals or fewer in six games.

Vondras has started seven of Sudbury's first nine games, playing time the 19-year-old might not have gotten if he stayed in the Czech Republic.

"It's the games played," Hurricanes goalie development coach Jason Muzzatti said. "I want these guys to get games in the bank. That's really I think No. 1 for all these guys, just playing."

The Hurricanes were pleased with what they saw from Vondras (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) during rookie camp and training camp and believe the opportunity to play more with Sudbury will allow him to continue to build on those areas.

"It's a simple thing, but just learn how to use his size to his advantage," Muzzatti said. "He's not terrible at it but I think he can get better at it, and just kind of recognizing situations during the game where he can use his size and not maybe retreat to his posts or do some of the typical goalie moves right now. Get a little more instinctual with it.

"We're really big on our goalies handling the puck, too. He's actually pretty natural at it so that's a good fit too. We want him to do a little more of that."

Vondras displayed some of his puck handling ability in a 2-1 loss to North Bay on Oct. 1, getting an assist on Sudbury's goal. 

Not that he admittedly did much.

"[North Bay] rimmed the puck and I stopped it behind my net and left it for my defenseman (Andre Anania)," Vondras said. "He passed the puck to the far blue line and [Nick Yearwood] scored on a breakaway. So it was good teamwork, but really by my D-man."

In addition to the physical growth, there's also the mental approach gained only through playing lots of games that will build on Vondras' development.

"It's learning to be a No. 1," Muzzatti said. "There's some mental stuff that goes into that. Playing maybe hurt but not injured. You've got to figure that piece out if you want to play in the show. Probably 80 percent of the time you don't feel great; maybe more. There are those games … when your legs are tired or maybe your skate sharpening is brutal. Just learn how to overcome those things."

So far Vondras seems to have handled things well on and off the ice. Being in North America allows for more in-person visits with the Hurricanes development staff, and while his English remains a work in progress, he feels it's better now than where it was when he arrived in Sudbury.

"Every game I learn something new that I have to improve to be better on this rink," Vondras said. "The angles are so much different, everything is a little different for me. But I like it and I enjoy every game because every game gives me something new to learn.

"I think it was the right time for this. It really helps me as a person. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone and come over for almost a year. It was tough, but I like it. I'm here to play hockey and this is what I love."

OTHERS TO WATCH

Hunter Brzustewicz, D, Kitchener (VAN): After being held without a point in Kitchener's season opener, Brzustewicz has 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) during an eight-game point streak. That includes four straight three-point games. Selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the third round (No. 75) of the 2023 NHL Draft, the 18-year-old leads all OHL players in assists and points.

Justin Gill, C, Baie-Comeau (NYI): Gill has 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in nine games with Baie-Comeau, who acquired the 20-year-old in a trade with Sherbrooke on June 7. Gill was third for Sherbrooke with 93 points (44 goals, 49 assists) in 68 games last season, which led to the New York Islanders selecting him in the fifth round (No. 145) in the 2023 draft. Gill has points in eight of nine games, and is tied for the QMJHL lead in assists and points.

Yegor Sidorov, LW, Saskatoon (ANA): Sidorov has 11 points (six goals, five assists) during a season-opening seven-game point streak. Selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the third round (No. 85) of the 2023 draft, the 19-year-old has goals in three straight games, including the game-winning goal in a 2-0 win against Calgary on Oct. 14.