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Sandman · 06-05-2025, 12:35 AM

Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 9):

LCG Ondrej Stebetak (6'2",176lbs)
Portland (WHL): 47gp/ 23-18-3, 3.72 GAA, .891 SV%

Ondrej Stebetak (ranked # 8 NA Goalies) really turned heads at last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, winning a Silver Medal with Team Czechia after being narrowly defeated by Team Canada in OT, by a score of 2-1, posting a 1.27 GAA, and a .947 SV% in the tournament. The Portland Winterhawks were 12th, out of 22 teams in the WHL this season, but were 18th in goals-against, and were swept out of the playoffs in the third-round by Spokane, with Stebetak posting an 8-5-4 record, with a 4.21 GAA, and an .887 SV%. He made the 8th-most saves in the WHL over the regular-season, with the 13th-highest TOI, and the 8th-most shots-against. In games with Czechia's U18 National Team earlier in the season, he showed his true potential, posting a 1.68 GAA, and a .932 SV% in 6 games, playing on a more structured team. A hybrid goalie, Stebetak employs impressive athleticism, acute reflexes, and uncommon flexibility, but falls back on his technique, positioning, and angling to do some of the work for him.

Stebetak is strong mentally, with an unflappable nature, and doesn't seem to get rattled- even under enormous pressure. He stays calm, poised, and focused, but shows battle and intensity when the chips are down in tough games, and when he is forced to scramble. He seems to thrive in high-pressure scenarios, and possesses a high-end compete level. Stebetak manages to track the puck well, despite being considered "undersized", and reads the play extremely well, to deliver quick reactions. His glove and his blocker serve him well, as do his long and flexible legs when sealing off the bottom of the net. He positions himself well to be square to the puck at all times, and owns solid four-directional quickness, with a specialty in pushing off of his posts to explode laterally, without showing holes in the process. In addition, he recovers quickly to his default stance after going down in the butterfly, and moves out to the top of his crease to cut down angles, make himself look bigger, and to challenge shooters. Stebetak handles the puck quite well, and completes a high number of the passes he attempts, which makes him highly valuable to his defensemen, and helps his team by expediting the breakout. He has shown the ability to seal off his posts well in the RVH, but needs to do it more consistently, as pucks can squeak by him at times. His biggest weakness might be his rebound control, as he gives up a lot of egregious second-chance opportunities. He has to better absorb shots, corral loose pucks with his stick, and use his blocker with more consistency to deflect pucks out of danger. Stebetak is still a bit raw, but there's potential here- look for him in the 4th, or 5th-round.

06-05-2025, 12:35 AM	#2541
Sandman Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Calgary Exp:	Draft Thoughts (Goalie Edition, Vol. 9): LCG Ondrej Stebetak (6'2",176lbs) Portland (WHL): 47gp/ 23-18-3, 3.72 GAA, .891 SV% Ondrej Stebetak (ranked # 8 NA Goalies) really turned heads at last summer's Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, winning a Silver Medal with Team Czechia after being narrowly defeated by Team Canada in OT, by a score of 2-1, posting a 1.27 GAA, and a .947 SV% in the tournament. The Portland Winterhawks were 12th, out of 22 teams in the WHL this season, but were 18th in goals-against, and were swept out of the playoffs in the third-round by Spokane, with Stebetak posting an 8-5-4 record, with a 4.21 GAA, and an .887 SV%. He made the 8th-most saves in the WHL over the regular-season, with the 13th-highest TOI, and the 8th-most shots-against. In games with Czechia's U18 National Team earlier in the season, he showed his true potential, posting a 1.68 GAA, and a .932 SV% in 6 games, playing on a more structured team. A hybrid goalie, Stebetak employs impressive athleticism, acute reflexes, and uncommon flexibility, but falls back on his technique, positioning, and angling to do some of the work for him. Stebetak is strong mentally, with an unflappable nature, and doesn't seem to get rattled- even under enormous pressure. He stays calm, poised, and focused, but shows battle and intensity when the chips are down in tough games, and when he is forced to scramble. He seems to thrive in high-pressure scenarios, and possesses a high-end compete level. Stebetak manages to track the puck well, despite being considered "undersized", and reads the play extremely well, to deliver quick reactions. His glove and his blocker serve him well, as do his long and flexible legs when sealing off the bottom of the net. He positions himself well to be square to the puck at all times, and owns solid four-directional quickness, with a specialty in pushing off of his posts to explode laterally, without showing holes in the process. In addition, he recovers quickly to his default stance after going down in the butterfly, and moves out to the top of his crease to cut down angles, make himself look bigger, and to challenge shooters. Stebetak handles the puck quite well, and completes a high number of the passes he attempts, which makes him highly valuable to his defensemen, and helps his team by expediting the breakout. He has shown the ability to seal off his posts well in the RVH, but needs to do it more consistently, as pucks can squeak by him at times. His biggest weakness might be his rebound control, as he gives up a lot of egregious second-chance opportunities. He has to better absorb shots, corral loose pucks with his stick, and use his blocker with more consistency to deflect pucks out of danger. Stebetak is still a bit raw, but there's potential here- look for him in the 4th, or 5th-round.