MATEJ PEKAR LOOKS TO BUILD ON RECENT EXPERIENCES IN DEBUT SEASON WITH WOLF PACK
Aug 31, 2023
Forward Matej Pekar entered his third off-season as a professional hockey player looking at the unknown. Pekar, a native of Turnov, Czechia, was bound for free agency for the first time in his career.
The result for Pekar was a one-year AHL contract with the Hartford Wolf Pack, one of six free-agent additions made by General Manager Ryan Martin during the summer months. The move turned the page on Pekar’s chapter with the Buffalo Sabres organization, a chapter that began at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas.
Pekar was selected 94th overall by the Sabres that June, during a time when Buffalo was amassing a strong group of young players that now populates their roster and the roster of Pekar’s former team, the Rochester Americans.
After 86 games and three seasons with those Americans, Pekar searched for a new home this off-season. After dealing with on-and-off injuries during the early portion of his career, a fresh start was just what he was looking for.
His sights were set on Hartford. Why? A variety of reasons, mainly the chance to continue his development as a player.
“I thought Hartford was the organization where I could be in the best spot to further my development,” Pekar said. “I believe I can help the team win here, and I’m hoping to prove that starting with training camp.”
Pekar’s game is one players love to have by their side but hate to go against. He’s the kind of player that fans love to boo when he comes into their arena but love to cheer on when he tugs on the home jersey. He’s physical and hard-working, the kind of player every team needs if they are to achieve the ultimate goal.
“I think I am a hardworking winger that can be a bit of a pest,” Pekar assessed when asked to best describe his style of play. “I believe that I can outwork the opponent anywhere on the ice. I believe I can make plays and help in that regard too.”
Pekar comes to Hartford looking to establish himself in a new organization. There’s urgency in his voice when you talk to him, knowing that the training camp window isn’t open for long, and an immediate impact is key.
“I would say that nothing is given and there’s no time to be wasted here,” Pekar said of the training camp that awaits him.
A quick start will be needed for everyone in what will be a busy, competitive camp setting.
One advantage Pekar has going into camp is confidence. The forward spent time with the Wolf Pack’s new ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones, during the 2022-23 season. There, Pekar scored 24 points (13 g, 11 a) in 28 games and was an impact player for the club offensively.
“I would say that being there definitely gave me some confidence,” Pekar said of the stint. “Coach Jason Payne really let me play and put me in positions to succeed. I really felt like he believed in me when I was there, and it gave me confidence in myself. It gave me a feeling that I could take a breath and just play and try to be the best version of myself as a hockey player.”
Pekar’s performance with the Cyclones led to his return to Rochester, where he eventually made his Calder Cup Playoff debut during the Americans’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals. It was a moment Pekar admits he won’t soon forget.
“It was a great experience,” he said of his playoff debut. “The feeling is indescribable when you’re winning as a team, especially in the playoffs. It takes everything that there possibly is in hockey to win in the playoffs. I think that kind of showed me how I personally need to play to both have success and to help the team to be successful in the long run.”
Despite a strong run with the Cyclones and his playoff debut, Pekar doesn’t come to Hartford content. Quite the opposite, actually. He’s confident, but he’s also hungry.
“I don’t think the playoff experience should have me satisfied,” he continued. “I think it showed me how great it is to win, and that’s why I’m hungry to do it all again.”
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.