Michal Repik

It was a best of times. It was the worst of times.

Michal Repik was a promising though undersized switch-winger. The Czech junior star came to Canada and became a Memorial Cup legend. But he barely survived the WHL before he graduated to the NHL.

Repik, a slippery skater with a dangerous shot, joined the Vancouver Giants for three seasons starting in 2005-06. His best season was 2006-07 when he led all players junior hockey with 33 points in 27 post-season games as the Giants became Memorial Cup champions. Repik even scored the championship winning goal.

That was the apex of his junior career, perhaps his entire hockey career. But he would return to the Giants for one more season in 2007-08 and suffered the lowest of the lows.

Repik was hit by Everett Silvertips defenseman Dane Crowley resulting in a severe concussion that left him without the sense of smell for an extended period of time.

The Florida Panthers selected Repik with the 40th overall draft pick in 2007. He would play in 72 games with the Panthers over four seasons, scoring nine career goals and twenty points. But ultimately he was unable to handle the heavy traffic of the NHL game to thrive at that level.

Repik returned to the Czech Republic in 2013 to continue his hockey career.