Alumni Spotlight: Vaclav Varada

From 1995-96 to 2002-03, Vaclav Varada played in 376 regular-season games with the Sabres, recording 144 points (46+98). He added 20 points (8+12) in 54 playoff games, trailing only Alexei Zhitnik and Richard Smehlik in postseason appearances by Buffalo players during that time.
We caught up with the former Sabres forward as he prepares to coach the Czech Republic in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Your first game as a Buffalo Sabre was the team's final game at the old Memorial Auditorium. What do you remember most about that day/night?
I still have that game on my mind. I was surprised that I got called up as a junior to have the opportunity to play that game. It was really special. The Aud was full of people that really cheered so I have great memories. I can say I remember both Sabres' buildings so it's really special to have that opportunity.
Varada was born in Vsetin, Czech Republic in 1976 and moved to North America in 1994 to play Major Junior hockey with the Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets. In his first WHL season he scored 50-38-88 in 68 games. In 1995-96, he produced 85 points (39+46) in 59 games during a season in which his NHL rights were traded from San Jose to Buffalo.
The Sabres won that final night at The Aud 4-1 over Hartford. Varada, who wore No. 9 in his debut, finished the game with two shots on goal, but no points.
You were the youngest player to appear in all 36 Sabres' playoff games over 1998 and 1999. How did you earn that trust from your coaches and teammates to become such a meaningful contributor?
The first half [of 1997-98], I had a great season in Rochester* and finally I got called up. I thought I had a great finish to the year in the regular season.\\ And in the playoffs, like all the other players, I stepped up my game and we really had a good run.
I'm thankful to have had the opportunity from the coaches and they really knew what they can use me for and what kind of player I am.
[In 1998-99], we had a great team. I thought Dominik Hasek played awesome throughout that season and he had a stretch in the playoffs that he was really dominating. We played as a team, and we really battled hard. It's too bad we didn't win it all in the end, but it was a great season and I think the fans enjoyed the hockey that we played and showed.
I have great memories, even though we ended on a sour note. I will never forget that time.
\56 points (30+26) in 45 games\\11 points (5+6) in 27 games*

Now wearing No. 25, Varada was one of only six Sabres skaters to play in all 36 games those two playoff seasons, producing eight goals and eight assists for 16 points. His eight goals were second only to Dixon Ward's 10 during that time.
During your time in Rochester and Buffalo, you played for coaches such as John Tortorella, and Lindy Ruff. What did you learn during those years that would help shape you as a coach years later?
I think both of them are awesome veteran NHL coaches right now. They really pushed me hard to be a better player in the defensive zone, to battle hard every shift I was on the ice, and really helped my career to become the player I was.
What can you say about our friend and Sabres broadcaster Rob Ray?
Robbie, he's one of the guys that from the beginning, he made it a little difficult for me to hop in, but once he knew what kind of guy I am and what kind of player I was, I thought we really had a good bond and we were good teammates.
He liked guys that gave their all and I was one of the guys. And that helped me. I haven't seen him in a long time, but I believe Robbie is a great team person and he was one of the leaders for a long, long time in a Sabres uniform.
You left the NHL at age 30 and continued playing in Europe for eight more years. Why did you leave North America when you did?
After my third season in Ottawa, my contract expired and I was really deciding on where to go. And to help me make that decision was that I had some family troubles. My mom was really sick and I wanted to be with her and I chose to go a little bit closer to my mom.
I'm grateful I had three or four months from the beginning of the season in Switzerland that I could go home and see her before she passed away.
Varada spent the 06-07 season with HC Davos, and the 07-08 season with SC Langnau in Switzerland before playing his final years for HC Vitkovice in the Czech Elite League.
At what point in your career did you take an interest in coaching?
It happened three or four years before I finished my career as a player. I had some time off to think about where my steps are going to be. I had to take school to become a coach because it's not like here where once you are done as a player, you could be one of the coaches.
At that time, I was still playing and I was studying to go with that. It was really difficult, but it was an easy transfer for me from the player point of view to the coaching position.
Varada has been the head coach of HC Ocelari Trinec in the Czech Elite League the past two seasons. Trinec finished as runners-up last year, and currently sit atop the standings through 29 games this season.
You are the head coach for the Czech Republic at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver. What does this opportunity mean to you?
I'm really happy to have this opportunity to coach this team. The last three of four years, I coached Under-18 team, Under-19 team and I've had those guys that came up with me.
To have the opportunity to represent my country is a special honor and I feel a great responsibility towards Czech Republic and I'll do my best to help my team to have that shot for success!
Varada won gold as a player for the Czech Republic in the 2000 and 2005 World Championships. He also played in two World Junior tournaments (1995 and 1996) scoring 11 goals in 13 games. The Czechs have not medaled at the World Juniors since 2005.
Sabres prospect Metaj Pekar was drafted 94th overall by the Sabres in 2018 out of Muskegon in the USHL. This season, the 18-year-old forward is excelling with the Barrie Colts of the OHL (coached by Dale Hawerchuk) and has posted 33 points (12+21) in 30 games. He's currently on the Czech team at the World Junior Championship.
How would you describe Czech-born Buffalo Sabres prospect Matej Pekar, and how big a role do you see for him at the tournament?
Well, Matej is having a really good season. He's scoring lots of goals and creating lots of chances. Over the past two or three years, I didn't have the opportunity to coach him yet so for me I'm trying to get to know him a little bit better. He's still fighting for a place in the four scoring lines. I'm seeing in him really that he's having a really good shot.
He has that spark. My players, they should have that spark that Matej has! But he still also has to play in the back end and we will see how it's going to end up. I believe that he could become the player the Sabres see in him.