Photo: Mládež HC Oceláři Třinec
The Washington Capitals selected center Petr Sikora with the 178th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft Saturday afternoon at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sikora, 18, is 6’0″, weighs 174 pounds, and has played within the HC Oceláři Třinec system in Czechia.
In 2023-25, Sikora mainly played with the 20U team with HC Oceláři Třinec, scored 13 goals, and recorded 27 assists in 30 games. He also played with the main team at HC Oceláři Třinec, scoring one goal and recording two assists in 22 games. He also represented Czechia in the WJC Under 18 championships where he played in 5 games and had 1 goal and one assist.
He is considered to be a good puck handler and a good two-way forward. The report from Elite Prospects considers him a forechecking forward with good puck control. He pursues the puck with remarkable intensity, often lunging and sliding to get his stick on it. He shields the puck and wins every battle of will. His desire to score and retrieve the puck back is generally greater than the opponent’s ability to stop him.
OTHER TAKES
The writeup on him from The Hockey News reads, “Sikora’s game is centred around his physicality. Listed at 5’11”, 172 pounds, Sikora loves to get in on the forecheck and never misses an opportunity to finish his check. Despite going up against bigger defencemen, Sikora is able to win board battles as he often outworks his opponent for loose pucks.”
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
RANKINGS
Ranked #150 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #87 by FLOHOCKEY/CHRIS PETERS
Ranked #163 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #37 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Skaters)
Ranked #85 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY
Ranked #157 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
By Diane Doyle
