One new face for the Vancouver Giants this season will be 17-year-old Adam Titlbach. The Czechia forward was selected 21st by the Giants in this year’s CHL Import Draft and is coming off a strong performance at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament, where he helped his country claim a Silver Medal. Now, he is ready to showcase his talents in the WHL as he looks to impress the scouts ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Last year, Titlbach played in both the Czechia U17 and U20 leagues and did not disappoint. He racked up 31 points in 34 games at the U20 level for HC Plzeň during the regular season before finishing second in the league during the U17 playoffs with 28 points in just 14 games. As he explains, he is ready for a new challenge which is one of the reasons he chose to come to the WHL.
“This is the best junior league,” Titlbach said. “It’s a good opportunity, so I want to play here. It’s my dream playing in Canada. Vancouver is a beautiful city. I can’t wait to see Vancouver; I like it here.”
This will be the second time Titlbach has played in Langley during his young career, as he participated in the U17 Hockey Challenge last November. During the tournament, he posted four assists in six games and also had the opportunity to meet some fans who are sure to be cheering him on this year. “Some fans I met before, and I’m really excited for the season.”
While there will be some challenges, like adjusting to the smaller ice surface, he is looking forward to the opportunity to play in the WHL. As for his role with the Giants, that is still unclear, but expect him to play up in the top six and be a contributor on the power play. If he can show produce like he did in Czechia for Vancouver, it could be the first time since 2004-05 that the Giants have first-round picks in back-to-back NHL Drafts.