Coachella Valley Firebirds goalie Ales Stezka has signed a three-year deal in Czechia with HC Kometa Brno, it was reported earlier this week.
Stezka, a product of Plzen, Czechia, split time this season between the Firebirds and the Seattle Kraken. In one NHL appearance, he collected the loss while posting a 3.09 GAA and a .870 SP. Across 26 AHL games, Stezka went 9-12-9 while putting up a 3.07 GAA and a .899 SP.
Drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, Stezka has played two stints of North American hockey throughout his career. He spent two seasons in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Chicago Steel between 2015 and 2017 as well as time in the Kraken organization between 2023 and 2025.
With Stezka heading back to his home country for a minimum of three years, it does not look likely that he returns stateside. Although he showed flashed of brilliance in the AHL, Stezka could not get NHL playing time, and he will head back to Czechia's top pro league where he will likely be one of the better goalies.