All Images Used in This Article Courtesy of Super Ed Bailey/Wichita Thunder

This feature on Wichita Thunder forward Michal Stinil looks at how he has quickly blossomed into one of the most feared players in the ECHL. He has established himself as an MVP candidate and one of the most dangerous snipers (odstřelovač, pronounced odd-stre-le-vac) in the ECHL.

Michal Stinil, the Wichita Thunder Sniper

Time for a little lesson in the language of the Czech Republic. After all, if one is going to be talking about the hottest player in the ECHL and an MVP candidate, then it is necessary to learn a little of his own language. That player is Michal Stinil, who has shown in one season how quickly he can adjust his game turning himself into the deadliest sniper (odstřelovač) in the league.

Sniper is a term often associated with a player who is deadly with the puck on his stick. Someone who can drill a goal from anywhere inside the opponent’s zone, and can reach paydirt anywhere he sees an opening.

However, one must first acknowledge that Michal first established himself as an odstřelovač in another sport. Growing up, Michal played several sports, but there were two that he excelled at – hockey and the biathlon. His father and mother were top biathletes in the Czech Republic and taught their son to be just as precise with his shooting. Michal excelled, winning three national titles and could have been an Olympic athlete in the sport, but there was one sport he loved most and the decision to chase his dream on the ice was an easy one.

“As you get older, you have to go to practices and focus more and more, so I started dropping others. It started with soccer and then it was biking. Then it was just biathlon and hockey only. When I got to 14 I had to drop biathlon because if I wanted to pursue hockey I had to move out of my hometown to a better place so I had to decide whether I wanted to stick with the biathlon or pursue hockey. I always loved hockey, so I chose hockey. So, it became hockey only.”

Hockey was his first love and Michal realized that he was only going to reach a certain point in his maturation where he lived, So, at 14, his parents allowed him to head to the big city to play.

“First, I moved like two hours from home because, in Czech Republic, things are so different because we don’t have high school programs, we don’t have college programs, everything is owned by the Pro club who is basically running everything down to the junior level, even down to little kids. When I was 14 the team back home did not play in the highest league so I moved so I could play in the top U-16 league. I played two or three years there and then, when I was 16, I came across the ocean.”

How Do You Say Redneck in Czech?

In 2016, at age 16, Michal Stinil headed across the ocean to play hockey, first joining the Springfield Pics (USPHL-Pr) where he was an instant success, scoring 16 goals and adding 23 assists in 37 games. A year later, he joined the South Shore Kings (NCDC) where he had another big season, scoring 21 goals and adding 23 assists in 43 games.

In 2018, Michal moved to the North American Hockey League, joining the Lone Star Brahmas. He spent two seasons with the club, scoring 14 goals and adding nine assists in 29 games in his first season, then putting up a 20 goal, 21 assist performance in 45 contest the following year.

The numbers were outstanding, but coming to the United States, to a country where he did not know the language or the culture very well was a challenge to say the least.

“It’s not easy and, when I look back, what I’ve done, I was just basically a young kid, 16 years old, didn’t speak a word of English, didn’t have any idea or know anybody. I just basically packed up my hockey bag and came over. When people are asking me if this was a good idea, when I look back on it, I would tell them like, no, don’t do that. I just had a goal, and I just went for it.”

Helping to make the adjustment much easier were Melody and Randy Smith, who became the billet family for Michal. Not only did they include the teenager as one of the family, but they helped to drive a new passion in Michal. The Czech star had always loved cars, especially fast ones, but he came to appreciate what Texas and its culture offered. That included teaching him about restoring vehicles, and now Michal has gained an active interest in trucks, helping to coin his new nickname, “the European Redneck.”

Důvěra Is the Key

After completing his time in juniors, Michal Stinil went to play hockey at American International College (AHA) where he scored two goals and had five assists in 17 games in his freshman season. However, in his second season, things were not working out for him. He opted to go pro and Wichita became the destination.

“I decided college was not for me and I was in a spot where I had to decide what I wanted to do. I was looking for options and coach (Bruce) Ramsay reached out to me and gave me the best opportunity that I’ve had. I’ve been happy since.”

In his first season in Wichita, Stinil produced 13 goals and 17 assists in 54 games. It was a solid season, but there was something missing in his game. Something he recognized as well – důvěra (pronounced do-ver-ay).

“I worked with my coach in the summer, and he helped me a lot with different parts of the game, but this tweak I needed was one simple word, and is called confidence. It was all I needed.”

Confidence and trust in himself is what Michal was looking for, and he also benefited greatly from confidence from his coach to know that he was going to be in the lineup each night. After being held off the score sheet through his first three games of the 2022-23 season, Michal produced points in four straight games, recording six points in those four contests.

He approached the Thanksgiving holiday with a goal and seven assists through his first nine games. Then a conversation with his mother changed the trajectory of the season.

“For some reason, I called my mom before the game and I was like, just give me a little advice. She just give me this little advice for that time, she told me to just get some points. She told me she wanted to read something about me the next day. Now, since then, she just gives me a little advice because it is working great. Whatever she tells me, I just go ahead and do it.”

The talk with his mom changed the season for Michal Stinil. Since November 25, the Thunder forward has scored 16 goals and added 21 assists in 22 games. He has been the ECHL Player of the Week and was the Player of the Month in December, producing 10 goals and 15 assists in 12 December contests.

The rise of Stinil’s game has also led to him thriving with teammate Brayden Watts and Quinn Preston. The three young players, known as the Kid Line, have become as formidable as any line in the league. Watts is tied for third in goals with 19 and has 47 points overall in 34 games. His 47 points are second overall while Stinil is third with 45. Preston, playing in his first full professional season, has 13 goals and 29 points in 32 contests, making his point total sixth among rookies.

The trio has not only dominated at even strength, but have joined Jay Dickman and a rotating group of defensemen to form one of the best power-play lines in the ECHL. Stinil has been a big part of that, leading the league in power-play assists with 17 and is tied for first in power-play points with 22.

Because of the way that the three play, Michal explains that they are the perfect linemates. “We are all young, aggressive, we have the speed. We are different types of players and I think we really fit into each other’s way of playing. We are just a great fit for each other.”

The success has also brought about greater scrutiny from opponents. “I’m getting to be the target and I’m always like, why is it that Brayden Watts doesn’t get so much attention? Why is he staying under the radar?” He explains with a laugh. I don’t know if there’s something that I do or if it’s just that I’m trying so hard, I couldn’t tell you why, but it tells me I must be playing well for other teams to focus on trying to stop me.”

The ECHL MVP?

Right at the halfway point of the season, the Wichita Thunder find themselves 14 points behind the Idaho Steelheads for the top record in the Mountain Division. They are six points ahead of the Rapid City Rush, holding second-place and look destined for a playoff berth. That is something that Michal Stinil has not enjoyed professionally as the team fell short of reaching the postseason last year.

This club looks primed for success. They are getting solid play at the blueline, very good goaltending, and have three of the best young stars in the league in the Kid Line, to go along with a very good group of forwards. That type a winning combination will not only help the club to make the playoffs, but could help to make Michal the most valuable player. He has proven to be one of the best (nejlepší – noy-il-eps) players in the ECHL, something that drives the 23-year-old.

“I just always want to be remembered. When you go watch a hockey game, after the game there is going to be a couple of guys who stood out. I just want to be remembered when people leave the rink. I want to be the one that they remember. I want my presence to be known of the ice.”

His presence is being noticed a lot these days. The dangerous part is that Michal Stinil may just be scratching the surface of his game, not turning 24 until March 21. It truly is scary how good the Wichita Odstřelovač will be.

By Robert Pannier