Czech defender sees USA

By Tom Williams

Andrej Sustr played in Alaska before trying out for the Youngstown Phantoms.

BOARDMAN — A native of the Czech Republic, Andrej Sustr has seen plenty of the United States in the past 10 months.

He’s hoping his journey to Youngstown and the new USHL expansion Phantoms hockey team will lead him to a college scholarship.

Right now, the 6-foot-6, 195-pound defenseman, is enrolled at Ursuline High School as a junior. But before the year is out, the 18-year-old Sustr is hoping he’ll return with a diploma as he plans to switch to online classes after the Phantoms season gets under way in October.

“It’s kind of different back in Czech,” said Sustr of his education. “I was supposed to be a senior, but I’m a junior here. But I’m going to try to find a way to finish this year.”

Sustr said he began learning English “in elementary school. We had classes for three years. Then I came to the States last November and I spent five months in Alaska. It helped me to pick up the language pretty well.”

Last fall, Sustr began playing for the Kenai River Black Bears of the North American Hockey League, the same league that the old Mahoning Valley Phantoms were members.

“It was a tough decision but I’m glad I [made] that decision so that I came to Alaska,” Sustr said. “It helped me on my personal side and I picked up the language and I picked up a better hockey style.”

Sustr came to the Phantoms’ tryout camp in June and impressed Coach Bob Mainhardt.

“There’s no doubt that Andrej is an NHL prospect,” Mainhardt said. “He’ll challenge for more ice time as the season goes along.”

In Alaska, road trips were not short.

“We flew down to Washington, Texas and Kansas,” Sustr said. “I’ve seen a bunch of states.”

He was impressed with his surroundings.

“Alaska, the nature is amazing,” Sustr said.

A visa mixup resulted in Sustr’s education being delayed.

“I wasn’t able to go to school in Alaska because I had the wrong type of visa,” Sustr said. “I had a business visa but I was supposed to have a student visa.

“I would love to play college hockey — that’s the reason I am here. That’s why I want to work hard for my grades. It’s a great chance to get an education and to play great hockey.”

Sustr’s hometown of Plzen has sent former Pittsburgh Penguins Martin Stratka and Petr Sykora to the National Hockey League. Sustr said Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jaroslav Spacek is from the same region.

“Sometimes, I practice with them during the summer,” said Sustr who admitted that their success is an inspiration to young athletes back home.

Nine years ago, he saw the Stanley Cup up close when Sykora (then a New Jersey Devil) brought it home for a day.

This summer, Sustr was in the U.S. when Sykora celebrated his day with the NHL’s prized trophy.

Sustr said he became a hockey fan 11 years ago.

“I started when Czech national team won the Olympics in Nagano in 1998,” Sustr said. “It was a big boom, it was like everyone wanted to play hockey.”

Sustr sees himself as “a playmaker — I like making good passes and good transition [moves]. With long legs I guess I’ve got good reach. There’s an advantage there.”

In addition to adjusting to English, Sustr said the hardest thing about being so far from home is “it was a hard time without family. I stayed in Alaska for Christmas, I didn’t go home. It was kind of hard but ... it makes you stronger.”

He’s optimistic that his family may come to the U.S. during the Phantoms season.

“I hope they will come over this year — they’ve never been to the States,” Sustr said.

williams@vindy.com