Valek Packing his Well-Worn Bags Once Again
_Photos/Harvard/David_Valek.gif?max_width=360)
The following article featuring Harvard incoming freshman David Valek appeared June 16 on the National Hockey League (NHL) Web site.
By Adam Kimelman
NHL.com Staff Writer
The fact that David Valek was born in the hockey hinterlands of
Orem, Utah, is just one step in his long, winding road to what he
hopes will be the NHL. Valek, a right wing with the U.S. National
Team Development Program, has had more addresses in his 18 years
than most people will have in a lifetime.
His stay at the USNTDP campus in Ann Arbor, Mich., proved
fruitful. The 6-foot-2, 199-pounder had 7 goals and 20 points in 48
games with the Under-18 team. He had a goal and a plus-2 rating in
seven games as he helped the U.S. win the gold medal at the World
Under-18 Championship in April.
"Playing at the program my job was to be a two-way forward," Valek
told NHL.com. "In the defensive zone it was details, not allowing
scoring chances. In the offensive zone, since I'm 6-foot-2, I
needed to use my body on the forecheck, put pucks back, get my body
over the puck, get in front of the net, get those dirty goals, the
rebounds and screen the goalie, just make his life hell."
Complete article can be accessed via the NHL Web site by clicking here.
