Coachella Valley Firebirds goaltender Ales Stezka is on the move.
The 28-year-old from Czechia, who played the last two seasons for the Firebirds and their NHL affiliate, the Seattle Kraken, has signed a three-year contract with HC Kometa Brno, a team in his home country, the Firebirds announced Thursday.
Stezka played in 53 American Hockey League games for the Firebirds and one game with the Kraken. In those AHL games, he had a 2.77 goals-against average and a save percentage of 90.6%.
His efficiency slid a bit during the 2024-25 season, when he was expected to be the Firebirds’ primary netminder. Stezka’s GGA fell from 2.48 in 2023-24 to 3.07 and his SV% dropped from 91.4% to 89.9%. Rookie Nikke Kokko became Coachella Valley’s primary goaltender down the stretch, as Stezka dealt with a series of minor injuries. Kokko, not Stezka, started in all of the Firebirds Calder Cup Playoff games.
After the season, as players met with media for exit interviews on May 12, Stezka was still able to express positivity looking back on the season.
“I played my first NHL game, and that was a positive thing,” Stezka said. “It was a big moment.”
He also said that his experience playing in the valley was largely positive.
“It was a good two years,” he said.
It felt in those interviews as though Stezka knew that his time with the Firebirds had come to an end. He was a free agent and declined to speculate as to whether he would re-sign with the team.
Stezka is the latest former Firebirds player to sign with a team in Europe. Among them are Swedish forward Jesper Frödén, who starred for the Firebirds in 2022-23 before signing with the Zürcher Schlittschuh Club Lions in Zurich, Switzerland. Finnish forward Ville Petman left the Firebirds following the 2023-24 season to play for SaiPa in Finland, and Carsen Twarynski joined the Vienna Capitals in Austria following the 2022-23 season. Former Firebirds’ Peetro Seppala, Callum Booth, Michal Kempny and Nick Pastujov have all since played in Europe.
More recently, American forward Andrew Poturalski, who played two seasons for the Firebirds, asked to be released by the San Jose Sharks’ organization to pursue more lucrative opportunities in Europe.
Perhaps knowing that his time in the Coachella Valley had come to an end, Stezka shared a message to Firebirds fans on May 12.
“Thank you for the support for both seasons,” he said. “It was very fun to play in front of you.”
Andrew John covers the Firebirds for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Firebirds goalie Ales Stezka returning to Europe
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
