This off-season, the Rangers organziation on the whole has seen more turnover than at a Sara Lee factory. That reshaping continued as the team has signed their third round pick in this past season’s draft, Czech defenseman Tomas Kundratek.
Kundratek was the pick in a trade with the Phoenix Coyotes that sent former Pack forward Alex Bourret out west on June 21.
The 18 year old from Jrinec in the Czech Republic had a solid season offensively in 2006-2007 with HC Oceláři Třinec U-20 of the Czech Extraliga when he put up four goals, thirteen assists for seventeen points in 33 games along with 93 PIM. Over last season he combined a variety of different leagues in the Czech Republic notching four goals and seven assists for eleven points as well as 50 penalty minutes.
The 6-1″ 190 pound d-man has international experience as well. Kundratek appeared in six games for the Czech Republic during the 2008 U-20 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic, collecting one goal and two penalty minutes.
According to Steve Zipay’s Blue Notes blog Kundratek will play for the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, who chose him 15th in the junior draft during Rangers’ prospect camp.
Here is the official release:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Tomas Kundratek.
Kundratek, 18, skated in 14 games with HC Oceláři Třinec of the Czech Extraliga (CZE) this past season, registering one assist and 10 penalty minutes. He also appeared in two playoff contests with HC Oceláři Třinec, collecting six penalty minutes. Prior to joining HC Oceláři Třinec, Kundratek appeared in two Czech Division 1 (1.liga) contests with the HC Havířovská Panthers, and 15 Czech Division 2 (2.liga) matches with HK Jestřábi Prostějov. He began the 2007-08 season with the HC Oceláři Třinec junior team in the Czech Extraliga U-20 (CZE U-20) league, recording three goals and six assists, along with 28 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating.
The 6-1, 190-pounder has skated in 36 career Czech Extraliga games with HC Oceláři Třinec, recording two assists and 14 penalty minutes. In nine career Czech Extraliga playoff contests, Kundratek has registered two assists and 14 penalty minutes. In addition, he has appeared in 59 Czech Extraliga U-20 matches with the HC Oceláři Třinec junior team, registering eight goals and 20 assists for 28 points, along with 137 penalty minutes and a plus-34 rating.
Internationally, Kundratek appeared in six games for the Czech Republic during the 2008 U-20 World Junior Championships in the Czech Republic, collecting one goal and two penalty minutes.
The Jrinec, Czech Republic native drafted by the Rangers in June as their third round choice, 90th overall. New York acquired the pick in a trade with the Phoenix Coyotes, in exchange for forward Alex Bourret, on June 21.
(Tomas Kundratek photo courtesy of Eurohockey.net)
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