Branden Troock Joins HC Vítkovice: New Player & Writer

Branden arrived in Ostrava this morning, after passing the medical examination he will be ready for tomorrow’s training. The native of Alberta, Canada signed a contract until the end of the season with a subsequent one-year option. What were his first words after arriving at the OSTRAVAR ARENA? “I feel great here and I’m very happy to be here. I think my game is very much about an active approach. I want to help the team as much as possible, give energy in the fight for the playoffs and play physical hockey. I want to be valid in front of the goal and this is what the coach wants from me, which suits me.” the Canadian striker answered the first question.

He started with hockey in the Canadian selection of the CAC Canadiens before heading to the Western Hockey League in 2010 and defending the colors of the Seattle Thunderbirds. After a successful 2011/2012 season, he was chosen by the coaches of the Canadian U18 national team for the world championship in the Czech Republic. After a dramatic duel with Finland, he hung a bronze medal around his neck, which was a harbinger of a successfully completed NHL draft. Selected by the Dallas Stars, Branden became the 134th player overall in the fifth round.

This was followed by an eight-year overseas trip by AHL and ECHL teams, which was interrupted for one season by the covid year. After scoring points in the Allen Americans, he played with Banská Bystrica in 2022, where overseas players have always been successful. Troock was no exception, which is why he scored a respectable 29 goals for the “Rams” in the 2022/2023 season, and with a balance of practically a point per game, he moved to the north of Europe. The next season he played for AIK in Stockholm, but the team from the capital did not do well in the playoffs and were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

After a year, he found a new job in the German DEL, specifically in the Iserlohn Roosters. Twelve goals in twenty-nine games was a decent feat, but in the end it wasn’t enough for the playoffs. Therefore, before this season, Branden chose to go to Slovakia again, that is, where he was successful in terms of points and shooting. This time, however, not under Urpín, but to his rival in Zvolen. In addition to the preparation, where he also played against Vítkovice last summer, he played 11 extra-league matches for the “Knights” and scored two accurate hits. At the end of October 2025, despite the signed two-year contract, he ended the engagement and went to Finland.

He played fourteen games for the Sport Vaasa team and scored three goals. As the position for the play-offs gradually recedes from the Finnish team, he decided to try the Czech Extraliga and show that he still has shooting talent and ferocity.

Head coach and sports manager Václav Varaďa also commented on the arrival. “Branden is a technically very well-equipped player with a hard shot, excellent work with the puck and good reading of the game. We believe that he can be valid mainly in the offensive phase and will bring energy, emphasis and competitiveness to the ice. At the same time, we greatly appreciate the support of the club owner and our partners, thanks to which this arrival was possible.” said the pilot from Vítkovice. In the lineup, Branden is practically the sixth Canadian alongside Anthony Nellis, Chad Yetman, Joe Leahy, Lucas Edmonds and Josh Wesley.

Branden Troock