Romanian Hockey and it's current State?

Being born in Romania (However only lived there for one year before coming to Canada). I can say with all honesty I am curious in the state of hockey in my home country (though I consider myself to be more Canadian than anything). I've been to the Hockey Hall of Fame and I've seen a Romania Hockey Jersey in one the exhibits which made me really curious as to how the state of the game is in that country. I know its not very good because no kids are ever coming out of there into the NHL. When I was little I wanted to be the first Romanian to play in the NHL, but at this rate that won't happen, not for me. However I've always felt the sort of need to go over there and help develop the game of hockey in that country. (Obviously this takes lots of money and commitment, and money is something that many people in Romania don't have.) Does anyone on this forum actually know of any hockey leagues in Romania that have a chance at some day producing some AHL/NHL talent? Any information is welcome and thank you.

Being born in Romania (However only lived there for one year before coming to Canada). I can say with all honesty I am curious in the state of hockey in my home country (though I consider myself to be more Canadian than anything). I've been to the Hockey Hall of Fame and I've seen a Romania Hockey Jersey in one the exhibits which made me really curious as to how the state of the game is in that country. I know its not very good because no kids are ever coming out of there into the NHL. When I was little I wanted to be the first Romanian to play in the NHL, but at this rate that won't happen, not for me. However I've always felt the sort of need to go over there and help develop the game of hockey in that country. (Obviously this takes lots of money and commitment, and money is something that many people in Romania don't have.) Does anyone on this forum actually know of any hockey leagues in Romania that have a chance at some day producing some AHL/NHL talent? Any information is welcome and thank you.

I think the only chance for romanian hockey player be one day in NHL is to go to CZE, SVK, SUI, RUS, SWE, FIN in childs age (sooner the better) and be better then other players of the same age there :teach:

like Kopitar he made his last steps before draft in SWEDEN junior hokcey league and now he is there!

sigh, maybe someday we'll see a Romanian Born Player, if I had the money I'd love to go over there and teach Romanian kids the game of Hockey in which I love.

Sadly there aren't enough ice rinks for children to learn ice hockey. There are some outdoor skating rinks during winter here in Bucharest but for a short period of time. I know they changed the hockey federation president this year and maybe we'll see some improvements in the next years. I also know that ice hockey is more popular in the central area (Harghita department) and they have the best junior teams in the country. As for Romanian players in the AHL there was this player Arpad Mihaly I think 2 or 3 years ago playing for the WBS Pens and the Wheeling Nailers but I don't know what happened to him. He obviously wasn't NHL caliber. I also hope someday we'll see a Romanian player in the NHL but for now, as Mirinho stated the best chance for a Romanian talented kid to be seen by scouts is playing in a strong National Championship like the SEL, RSL etc.
On a side note I've heard (can't remember where) that Jeoffrey Lupul's mom is from Romania. Do you know anything about this? If you knew Romanian I think you'd know that his name means 'the wolf' :)

I've been to the Hockey Hall of Fame and I've seen a Romania Hockey Jersey in one the exhibits which made me really curious as to how the state of the game is in that country. I know its not very good because no kids are ever coming out of there into the NHL.

Probably Eduard Pana's jersey out there. The one they say was the best Romanian player is another one, Doru Tureanu, who allegedly was offered a contract by the Montreal Canadiens, but turned it down due to communism and other things back then.

As for Romanian players in the AHL there was this player Arpad Mihaly I think 2 or 3 years ago playing for the WBS Pens and the Wheeling Nailers but I don't know what happened to him.

Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL), seems to have settled down to an ECHL level, but what is funny, is that he had a place on the Binghamton Senators in the AHL during the lockout season and played on the same team with Spezza or Vermette.

Also I think Joffrey Lupul's mother is Romanian or something similar. Anyway the family name means "Wolf" in Romanian.

As for the "state of hockey", currently its down and getting lower. Not enough interest, not enough ice time for the teams, not enough rinks, not good enough coaches to promote this game and so on. But we have been like this for quite a while now, so we got used to go div II - div I at senior level and stay div II and junior.

There is a low number of players coming out of the junior ranks as there is only one senior league and it can't accomodate most of the players or at least the good ones.

And indeed for a player to make to the NHL he'd have to go out west first to learn better hockey and then make the big step. We have the talent but it's not being used properly most of the times. U14 teams that win tournaments in Switzerland, but in the end the quality of coaching and others make a too big gap for any player or team to jump.

Arpad Mihaly

played a few games last year in the AHL for the Penguins

Check some happening in the Romanian legue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2rkYSoss1k

Check some happening in the Romanian legue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2rkYSoss1k

yes, we all saw that before.

I'd love to see Romania develop some sort of concrete hockey program, but I doubt it is one of the countries athletic priorities.

http://hchoki.ro/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=305&Itemid=83

A new open air rink in Romania, and the first time after a looong time a game played like this.