Czech Hockey Star Arrives to Play With Oilers

Jet-lagged but happy, Czechoslovakian center Vladimir Ruzicka arrived in Edmonton on Wednesday ready to play with the Oilers.

Ruzicka, accompanied by his wife and two children, appeared surprised by the media crowd that met him at the Edmonton International Airport.

“Hockey is quite popular in Czechoslovakia, but, obviously, not as popular as here,” Ruzicka said.

“I can’t imagine such crowds meeting a player back home.”

Ruzicka said he has wanted to play in the NHL for a long time. “It’s the best league in the world. And the Oilers are one of this league’s best teams.”

Oilers public relations director Bill Tuele said it is unclear when Ruzicka will actually join the team.

“We want him to take it easy a bit, get his bearings. He’s not going to California,” where they play the Los Angeles Kings tonight, Tuele said.

Although Ruzicka would not discuss details of his contract with the Oilers, he did say it was more than 100 times larger than what he was getting for being Czechoslovakia’s top hockey star.