The first two KHL draft picks

Marko Daňo
Position: Forward
Handedness: Left 
Born: 30^th November 1994 (Eisenstadt, Austria) 
Height: 180 cm 
Weight: 83 kg 
Junior team: HK Dukla Trenčín 
Current club: HK Dukla Trenčín 
National team: U18, U20

Characteristics: Versatile forward, who can also play as a centre. Dangerous near the goal, and technically gifted.

Marko Daňo, son of former national team player Jozef Daňo was selected first by HC SLOVAN Bratislava (32^nd overall) in the 2012 KHL Draft in Chelyabinsk. Marko, who began playing in the U-18 Extraliga in 2009 at the tender age of age of 14 is one of the most promising young Slovakian players currently rising through the ranks. In the following season, Daňo played 36 games for the Dukla Trenčín team in the U-18 Extraliga, scoring a remarkable 13 goals and 12 assists, which was an incredible feat for a player of such a young age. The beginning of the 2010-2011 season saw Daňo score 17 points in 9 games for the U-18 team, which saw him promoted to the U-20 Extraliga whilst still only 16 years of age. He scored 40 points in 28 games in the U-20 Extraliga, and made his debut in the Slovak Extraliga at 16 years of age, becoming the third youngest player to ever appear in the top level of Slovakian hockey, appearing in eight regular season games, and three playoff games for Dukla Trenčín, where he managed to grab one assist. Last season saw Daňo play briefly for Dukla U-20, as well as the HK Orange 20 program in the 1.liga, but the skilled forward remained mainly on the Dukla Trenčín Extraliga roster, where he scored 10 points (4+6) in 32 games, before scoring three points (0+3) in 9 playoff games. For a 17 year old to have such professional experience at such a young age is remarkable, and is one of the reasons why Daňo is such a highly touted prospect.

Daňo has represented Slovakia at almost every international level so far. As a 16 year old he represented Slovakia-18 at the World Championships, where he scored four points in six games, whilst in December of 2011, he was the youngest player on the Slovakia roster for the World Junior Championships, where he truly had his breakout performance. Against top NHL prospects, Daňo moved from the fourth line all the way up to the first line, and even scored against Finland. In the U-18 Division 1 tournament in Piešťany, where he scored 10 goals and 3 assists in five games, to lead all scorers, and was one of the main reasons for Slovakia’s promotion back to the elite level of Under-18 competition.

Speaking following his selection by HC SLOVAN, Daňo appeared to rubbish the idea of moving to Canada. “I was very happy when my agent told me that HC SLOVAN drafted me. I see it that moving to SLOVAN would be a great step in my career, and I certainly do not imagine that I will move to Canada now”.

Martin Reway

Position: Forward
Handedness: Left 
Born: 24^th January 1995 (Prague, Czech Republic) 
Height: 178 cm 
Weight: 78 kg 
Junior team: MHK Dolny Kubin /MHC Martin 
Current team: HC Sparta Praha (Czech Republic) 
National team: U17, U18

Martin Reway is one of the brightest Slovakian prospects at the moment, and HC SLOVAN were delighted to pick him with their second round (69^th overall) pick. Reway, a small, extremely skilled forward is currently plying his trade for the HC Sparta Praha juniors in the Czech Republic, where he had an extremely good season in the Under-18 Extraliga. Reway scored 60 points (21+39) in just 25 U-18 Extraliga games, before scoring 24 points (8+16) in just 9 playoff games. Reway will be expected to play for HC Sparta U-20 next season, where he played five games last season, scoring six points (2+4).

Reway started his junior career with MHK Dolný Kubín, and during the 2009-2010 season had played an extremely important role in their U-18 1.liga team, scoring 70 points in 26 games during the season he turned 15, before making the jump to MHC Martin in order to further his development. Beginning the season at just 15 years old, Reway scored 35 points in 20 U-18 Extraliga games for Martin in the 2010-2011 season, before he made the move across the border to the Czech Republic.

Despite being born in the Czech Republic, Reway has represented Slovakia at both the U-17 and U-18 level, as he played in the World Hockey Challenge for Slovakia in 2011, scoring 2 points in 3 games, before starring for Slovakia in the U-18 Division 1 championships in Piešťany, scoring 11 points (4+7) in five games, including an incredible six points in the game against Norway.

by Jon Rowson, www.velvethockey.blogspot.co.uk