Kitchener, Ont. – The NHL’s Montréal Canadiens announced today that Slovakian forward Filip Mešár (pronounced Fil-lip Meh-Shaar) has been assigned to the Kitchener Rangers.
Mešár, 18, comes to Kitchener after being a first-round selection (26th overall) by the Montréal Canadiens in the most recent 2022 NHL Draft on Jul. 7. He signed a three-year NHL entry-level contract with Montréal on Jul. 14.
“We’re excited to add a player of Filip’s caliber,” said Kitchener Rangers General Manager Mike McKenzie. “Filip brings both European professional hockey and now NHL pre-season experience to our lineup. We’re looking forward to providing the resources to Filip for his development here in Kitchener.”
Mešár has impressively played in Slovakia’s highest-level men’s professional league, the Tipos Extraliga (Slovak Extraliga), for the past two seasons since he was just 16 years old. He recorded 30 points (12G, 18A) and a plus-5 rating in 73 games during his two years with HK Poprad. Most recently, Mešár suited up for three preseason games with the Habs during training camp, registering a plus-two differential while averaging 12:53 of ice time. Mesar made his pro North American debut in Laval on Friday, finishing the night with two shots on goal and a minus-one differential in the Rocket’s home opener.
A native of Kezmarok, Slovakia, Mešár represented his nation on the international stage, recording eight points (2G, 6A) in five games to help lead the Slovaks to a Silver Medal at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Impressively, he also competed in two games with Slovakia, two years early, as an under-aged player at the IIHF World Junior Championships before the event was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The 5-foot-10, 168-pound right-shot forward was a first-round selection (9th overall) by the Kitchener Rangers in the 2021 CHL Import Draft.
Filip is expected to arrive to Kitchener Saturday afternoon and will wear number 48 for the Rangers this season.
For more information, visit kitchenerrangers.com.
