**Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect to Join North American Team**
Toronto Maple Leafs fans have some positive news to focus on as Miroslav Holinka, their fifth-round pick from the 2024 NHL Draft, has decided to join the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Despite a quiet August for the Maple Leafs, the Oil Kings’ acquisition of Holinka provides a bright spot. Holinka, selected 14th overall by Edmonton in the CHL Import Draft and later picked 151st overall by the Maple Leafs, will play in the Western Hockey League.
The Czechia native spent the 2023-24 season with HC Oceláři Třinec, scoring 20 goals and recording 41 points in 29 junior league games. He also appeared in 16 games with the senior team, where he played alongside former Maple Leafs forward Richard Panik. HC Oceláři Třinec is a top team in the Czechia Extraliga, known for its five consecutive championships.
Holinka also represented his country at the U19 and U20 levels last season, although he did not participate in the World Junior Hockey Championships.
Recently, Holinka showcased his skills at a U20 tournament in Finland, where he scored three goals and added four points in three games. He played alongside future Oil Kings teammate Adam Jecho.
Oil Kings president Kirt Hill commented, “Since the NHL Draft, Miroslav has continued to impress at Maple Leafs Development Camp and the Summer World Junior Showcase in Europe. We look forward to him joining our team in early September and contributing his offensive skills to our forward lineup.”
The Oil Kings, who missed the playoffs in the past two seasons and had a tough 10-54-4 record in 2022-23, are hopeful that Holinka, along with other NHL draft picks like Jecho, Parker Alcos (Vancouver), and Gracyn Sawchyn (Florida), will help them reach the playoffs.
While Holinka will be playing in Edmonton rather than closer to Toronto, such as Ben Danford in Oshawa or Sam McCue in Owen Sound, he will be just a five-hour drive from 2023 prospect Noah Chadwick in Lethbridge.
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