Hungry Bruin gets perfect billet mate

BY MARC WEBER

November 15, 2007

David Hoda is hungry — and that’s a good thing, unless you live with him.

“He eats like a horse,” Chilliwack Bruins defenceman Dylan Chapman says of his Czech billet mate, whose insatiable desire to develop his North American game is mirrored by his equine efforts in the dining room.

“That’s probably his biggest problem: he eats all my food.”

Chapman, the 20-year-old Bruins assistant captain, was saddled with the added responsibility this season of showing Hoda, 18, the ropes of the Western Hockey League and Canadian life in general since Hoda knew almost no English when he arrived from his humble hometown of Trinec.

“I come here, I don’t speak English,” says Hoda, Chapman in tow providing the odd translation services. “I only talk ‘I’m hungry’, first sentence. Now, little better. My roommate help me lots.”

At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Chapman is no jockey, but he’s helped steer Hoda in the right direction. The Bruins paired these two up for a reason, believing Chapman was the ideal candidate to help Hoda integrate smoothly both socially and on the ice.

They also knew that Chapman’s billet family from last season — Ben and Marianna Faber — would provide a supportive environment for the import blueliner whose play, surprisingly, is modelled after Canadian Chris Pronger’s “good hits” as much as Czech Tomas Kaberle’s “good pass.”

At the rink, Chapman and Hoda have lockers side by side and are always talking. At the Fabers’ house, they hang out and watch TV or play XBox — NHL ’08 and Guitar Hero being the games of choice — and Chapman’s parents had the pair for Thanksgiving dinner at their Port Coquitlam home and celebrated Hoda’s birthday at the same time.

“Dylan very much plays the role of big brother,” says assistant coach Dan Price, who often diagrams and demonstrates systems and drills for Hoda, but notes that he’s a very smart hockey player with good instincts.

“[Dylan’s] got the benefit of having that knowledge like a big brother would and David relies heavily on him for understanding things.”

Like what the heck Coach is upset about.

“By the tone of voice, [David] can understand the basic message that the coach is trying to convey,” says Price, “but Dylan can put the meat on the bones for him.”

Hoda has also been studying with an English tutor twice a week, covering hockey-specific words and phrases along with the basics.

During a 15-minute interview, he displays an impressive ability to converse for someone who, two months ago, could only remark on his rumbling stomach. He’s also not afraid to sound silly, facing the language challenge with the same bravado he draws on to routinely step in front of 90-mile-per-hour slapshots.

When he says: “In Czech Republic, little people talk English,” you know exactly what he means.

“[The Fabers] love to talk and they have a great sense of humour,” says Chapman. “Now David is starting to open up more and we laugh more at dinner time. He even tells jokes and he’s more social around the guys. It’s great to see.”

The learning hasn’t been a one-way street for the two billet buddies.

Chapman’s Czech isn’t coming along too well— “I only know three words,” he says — but the experience has taught him a lot about himself.

“It’s hard to explain, but it’s helped me become a better person,” he says. “[David] doesn’t always grasp things, so you have to explain to him and help him and I have more patience now.

“It’s pretty rewarding, seeing him have absolutely no English and now he can have a conversation. It’s cool to watch his progress and know that you’re part of it.”