The Prince Albert Raiders put pen to paper with Czechia-born netminder Michal Orsulak on Wednesday after drafting him 46th overall in the CHL Import Draft in May. Here, he's seen tracking the puck following a shot from a Swedish attacker during preliminary play at the 2025 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas, on April 28, 2025. (Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

By Austin Mattes

Big Presence

Raiders ink towering Czech goaltender Michal Orsulak

Jul 30, 2025 | 3:28 PM

The Prince Albert Raiders have announced the signing of 2007-born Czech goaltender Michal Orsulak to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement, bringing a big new presence to their crease ahead of the 2025–26 season.

Orsulak, who hails from Tremosna, Czechia, was selected by the Raiders in the first round (46th overall) of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. With his 6-4, 225-pound frame and uncommon right-catching style, he brings a unique presence and depth to the team’s roster.

“We’re excited to see how our team shapes up and how they fit into it,” said Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt. “Speaking with Orsulak specifically, you take a look at the size and you go ‘holy’, that’s going to be awesome. Just to have a guy that big soon standing between the pipes here.”

Orsulak spent last season with HC Energie Karlovy Vary U20 in the Czech U20 League, appearing in 34 games and posting a .902 save percentage alongside a 3.23 goals against average. Despite playing fewer games than the league’s busiest netminders, he still faced the fifth-most shots in the league and recorded two shutouts.

He also brings international experience, having represented Czechia at the 2023 U-17 World Hockey Challenge (WHC) and last season at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where his country earned a silver medal. Most recently, he represented Czechia at the 2025 U-18 World Junior Championship (WJC), where they lost 3-2 in overtime to Canada in the quarter-finals. In three games at the WJC, he boasted a 1-2 record with a 3.79 goals against average and .843 save percentage.

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“I saw him play at the Helenka last year in Edmonton, and then he was part of the Czech team at the world championships this year just outside of Dallas,” Hunt added. “I take advantage of the fact that we have ex-goalies out there, guys who can evaluate the position certainly a lot better than maybe I can. We had a few guys watch. We discussed it amongst ourselves, and we think there’s some tremendous upside.”

The addition of Orsulak sets the stage for an intriguing goaltending battle in Prince Albert, as he joins returning netminder Dimitri Fortin and two up-and-coming prospects vying for spots.

“We’ve got a tremendous goalie coming back and we’ve got two young prospects chomping at the bit to earn a spot. So we’re looking for a great battle in camp and we think he’ll add to that competitive spirit you want early in the year,” said Hunt.

Orsulak joins Matyas Man and Alisher Sarkenov as the latest import players to officially commit to the Raiders via WHL Scholarship and Development Agreements, further rounding out the team’s international talent pool heading into training camp.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes