RoughRiders’ Fronk learning North America

CEDAR RAPIDS – Technology is amazing.

Jiri Fronk is in the United States for the first time, playing hockey for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. The winger from the Czech Republlic doesn't speak too much English, yet, though he's improving.

His coaches, teammates and billet family are helping out as best they can. For instance, at RoughRiders Media Day earlier this week, Fronk was asked for an interview and a teammate immediately came to his assistance, pulling out his cell phone and dialing up a particular application.

You say something into the phone in English and it immediately translates it to Czech so Fronk can understand. He replies in his native language, and it's translated back to English.

'It is hard. I am trying to get better at English. The guys are helping,” Fronk said, in English. 'Everything is good. It is my first time in America. My (teammates) are good, friendly, helping me. Coach is, too. My housing family is good. Very friendly.”

That Fronk, 20, is in Iowa pursing his hockey dreams is quite a story. He was selected in an import draft last summer by Victoria of the major junior Western Hockey League and expected to be an impact player last season.

But his club team back home (KLH Chomutov) wouldn't relinquish his rights. The disagreement went all the way to hockey's world governing body (the International Ice Hockey Federation), which ruled in favor of Chomutov.

His Chomutov rights finally expired this summer, the RoughRiders were tipped off about Fronk's desire to come to North America this season. One thing led to another, and he's here.

At 6-foot-4, he has big-time size, as well as the hands to go with it. He led the RoughRiders with six goals in five preseason games, including a hat trick in one game.

Cedar Rapids hosts Dubuque in the regular-season opener Saturday night at 7:05.

'It's been good,” RoughRiders Coach Mark Carlson said. 'He is a real smart kid, so he has caught on pretty quickly, learning English and everything. He's done a great job so far. He's got a chance to be an impact guy. He's got great size, can skate, has good hands, seems to be able to score. He sees the ice.”

'I want to play in the USHL,” he said.

And while the rest of his teammates aspire to play college hockey after their junior careers, Fronk is different. It's not about college.

He is here to learn the language, get accustomed to life in North America and show off his skills for professional teams.

'You've just got to do different things with him and learn what he likes to do on the ice,” said RoughRiders defenseman Clark Kuster. 'It has been fun trying to communicate with him. It has been a good experience. He's a good player. He'll be fun to watch. He's fun to play with. We're excited about that.”

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