The reason Mraz’ stock dropped had to do with a freak but nevertheless very serious incident that happened late April, when the player was in Russia playing a tournament with the national junior team.

After severe tremors and high temperatures, Mraz did not spend his time on the ice but in a St. Petersburg hospital instead. Initial fears of mononucleosis proved incorrect, but when a CT scan was made, doctors diagnosed a spleen that was four times its normal size and was pushing out other organs, making the situation life threatening.

Mraz was immediately operated on. He lost nearly 20 kilos and now has a huge scar as a permanent memory. Nevertheless the forward was adamant not to have the incident stop his drive to reach the top. After extensive visa problems were cleared, he reported to the training camp in Ottawa where he underwent an individual training schedule to get back in shape.

After six months of off-ice recovery training, the Slovak then finally re-appeared on the game sheet and registered a goal in his third game. However, the transition to the North American game did not go as smooth as anticipated and the Slovakian saw his ice time dwindle under coach Chris Byrne. Mraz himself got frustrated by the type of game he had to play and after just eight games both the team and the player decided it was better to part ways.

As Mraz told the Slovak media about his departure, he didn’t have the feeling he was given a fair chance to show his value.

“I am a technical player that needs space on the ice,” he said, “but the coach wanted me to play physical all the time. I did not receive a lot of constructive criticism but instead got benched more and more. That led to me wanting to leave the team.”

Mraz returned to his home country, where he dressed for the U20 team playing in the Slovak Extraliga. In four games he appeared since then he has registered a pair of goals and three points, but the unfortunate Slovak winger’s World Juniors roster spot was still in serious jeopardy.

With just 12 games played this season and coming back from a severe injury, Mraz was sitting close to the phone to find out how much credit he has built up last season with Slovakian U20 coach Ernest Bokros. Fortunately, he got the call and made the final roster.

But he realizes there are no givens any longer, and that his once blossoming career has taken a different path than expected. Although his first experiences in North America weren’t all too rosy, Mraz doesn’t rule out a return there next season.

“I’ve seen other teams that play nice technical hockey in the OHL,” he remembers. “Unfortunately we were forced to play a different type of game but I’m convinced I can be a success in that league on another team, so who knows I’ll go back.”

But at this moment he has other priorities.

“My injury this summer taught me one vital lesson. Nothing is more important than your own health,” the forward says.

Nevertheless, the U20 team won’t be playing league games any longer after the U20 World Championship, meaning Mraz will be having to join yet another team if he wants to continue playing this season.

“I didn’t want not to miss out on the World Juniors and being able to join my team mates to Ufa. Furthermore I want to regain my appetite for the game of hockey.”

Nothing better than to do this in the country, where all trouble started several months ago.