Friday, April 1, 2005 | By Philip Croucher, Halifax Daily News

It wasn't the regular season many expected from Petr Vrana.

The 19-year-old Halifax Mooseheads sniper had just 16 goals and 51 points in 60 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League regular-season games. On more than a few nights, he wasn't the dominating player he's capable of being.

But that was the regular season. It's the playoffs now, a time when stars step up to let their talents show.

"He showed in the world juniors he's capable of stepping up in important moments," says Mooseheads general manager Marcel Patenaude, "and two years ago in the (QMJHL) playoffs, he was there.

"In the regular season he had a few bad injuries. But I really feel Petr is going to show the way."

Vrana, who signed a three-year deal with the New Jersey Devils last spring, never really got it going offensively this season. The most goals the smooth-skating centre had in one month was five in October. The most points he had was 11 in February.

Vrana's biggest struggles came midway through the season, when he went more than two months from Dec. 3 to Feb. 4 without scoring a goal.

"I was trying to work on it and it didnt go my way," said Vrana, who scored five times and added three assists to help the Czech Republic capture bronze at the recent world junior hockey championship in Grand Forks, N.D.

"But I'm looking forward to the playoffs. We're practising now We're practising hard. I'm just getting ready."

Off-season surgery

After off-season surgery to repair an injured left shoulder, Vrana was hit with several minor injuries during the regular season. These included a bad elbow and ankle, both of which saw him miss action.

"He didn't have the chance to practise all summer," Patenaude said of Vrana, the team's captain for a second straight season.

"He didn't have the chance to train all summer so maybe he was late in his peak for his regular season."

Top rookie

Vrana joined the Mooseheads in the 2002-03 season and was named the league's top offensive rookie. That year he recorded 37 goals and 46 assists in 72 games, and added five goals and 15 assists in 24 playoff contests.

Last season Vrana had just 13 goals and 25 assists in 48 games while battling his shoulder injury. Heading into this season healthy, and with a strong cast of forwards, many thought Vrana would exceed his goal total from two years ago.

"He's wearing the C and I know he has the team at heart," Patenaude said. "He wants us to succeed. I would think that Petr's going to show the way."