EDMONTON, AB -If you're wondering whether Czech Tomas Mazura had a picture of Ales Hemsky on his wall growing up, you may not be completely surprised by what you find out.
"Yeah, I did!" exclaimed the Oilers 2019 sixth-round selection Monday at Development Camp.
Mazura, taken 162nd-overall this past weekend at the 2019 NHL Draft, became a member of the Oilers organization alongside his best friend and compatriot Matej Blumel (Round 4,100th-overall). And although he doesn't wear No. 83 on his jersey, he was a fan of Hemsky.
"I actually know him," the 6-foot-2 centre said. "My dad is good friends with him and we play tennis in the summer and stuff. We're not great friends but we know each other. I've been following him since when he played here."
Mazura hails from Pardubice, CZE, where Hemsky derives, so it shouldn't come as a shock that there's a connection. Hemsky suited up in 652 games with the Oilers, scoring 142 goals and 335 assists for 477 points.
Now, Mazura - who thinks he plays a similar style as 'Hemmer' - is trying to carve out a path with the Orange & Blue.
DEV CAMP: Mazura channelling his inner Hemsky with Oilers
"I mean, I've been following him, so I try to use my skill. His hands are pretty good so the bar is pretty high for that," Oilers sixth-round pick Tomas Mazura said of former Oiler Ales Hemsky
