Though coveted by many in the NHL ranks, 16-year-old Robert Dome will be skating with the Utah Grizzlies in the IHL for at least the next two years.
The talented teen from Slovakia inked a two-year contract with the Grizzlies on Wednesday, making him the youngest player ever to sign a pro contract in a North American hockey league."We feel this is a very, very important day in Grizzly land," said Grizzlies coach Butch Goring at a press conference for Dome (pronounced Dough-may).
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound right winger, who has been favorably compared by several hockey experts with Pittsburgh Penguins' Jaromir Jagr and Ottawa Senators' Radek Bonk, won't be eligible for the NHL draft until June of 1997 because he's too young. The NHL doesn't allow players to be drafted until they're 18 years old.
The exciting part for Utah, said Goring, is that Dome's only going to get better with more IHL experience and as his body continues to mature.
"This is not a publicity gimmick, believe me," Goring said. "The interest in the business is to win hockey games and if Robert couldn't play for our hockey team, he would not be playing."
Goring originally saw Dome play in a junior hockey camp two years ago in Minnesota and has kept tabs on him since. Last year, playing in the Slovakian League, the leftie scored 42 goals in 38 games. But Dome was advised by his agent Jiri Crha and Mike Barnett of the International Management Group that coming to America would be his best bet for future stardom.
At first, though, Dome only signed a two-week tryout contract with the Grizz. Utah's management was impressed and gave him another short-term try and in three regular season games he scored two goals and dished out an assist.
"He's demonstrated from day one since he got here that he's a very sound hockey player," said Goring, adding that eventually he may become an NHL star.
Likewise Dome said (through his translator/agent Crha) that he's thrilled about the opportunity to play in the United States.
"From the very first day he really likes America," said Crha, though also saying that Dome is experiencing a bit of culture shock being away from his family and native land. Dome isn't the only one in shock, however. His parents thought their boy was just coming for a short trip to the States.
"His parents are very surprised. When Robert left home they were expecting him to back in about two weeks," Crha said. "When he called them and told him he was staying his mother cried, and his father wished him good luck for the upcoming season."