OTTAWA, CANADA - JANUARY 04: Ryan Leonard #9 of Team USA skates with the puck towards goaltender Michael Hrabal #30 of Team Czechia in the first period of the semifinal match during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on January 4, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Mammoth fans, meet Michael Hrabal, the towering 6-foot-6 goaltender who’s shaping up to be a cornerstone of the franchise’s future.
Drafted in the second round (38th overall) by the Arizona Coyotes in 2023, it is rare to see a goalie drafted in the first couple of rounds. Going back ten years, I found only 10 goalies drafted in the first or second round.
Hrabal is now a prized prospect for the Mammoth, blending raw athleticism, size, and a cool-headed demeanor that’s turning heads in the NCAA and on the international stage.
Michael Hrabal taking shots.
So much size and athleticism. pic.twitter.com/aChUG8kmI7
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) June 30, 2025
Hrabal is now a prized prospect for the Mammoth, blending raw athleticism, size, and a cool-headed demeanor that’s turning heads in the NCAA and on the international stage.
Hailing from Prague, Czechia, the 20-year-old netminder has already made waves at the University of Massachusetts, where he’s in his sophomore season with the Minutemen.
In 2024-25, Hrabal has posted an impressive 2.37 goals-against average (GAA) and a .924 save percentage over 36 games, anchoring UMass to an upset win over Minnesota in the NCAA tournament’s first round.
His freshman year was no less notable, with a 16-12-1 record, a 2.59 GAA, and a .912 save percentage, earning him a spot on the Hockey East Second Team All-Star squad as the first UMass goaltender to achieve the honor as a rookie. His 37-save performance in a 3-2 victory over Boston College this season showcased his ability to shine against top competition.
On the international stage, Hrabal has been a clutch performer for Czechia at the IIHF World Junior Championship, securing bronze medals in both 2024 and 2025.
In 2025, he started six of seven games, posting a 4-2-0 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .919 save percentage. His standout moment came in the bronze-medal game against Sweden, where he stopped 12 of 14 shots in a record-breaking 14-round shootout, earning Player of the Game honors. Hrabal’s 29 saves in a 4-3 quarterfinal upset over Canada, and fellow Mammoth draft pick Cole Beaudoin, further cemented his reputation as a big-game player, having eliminated the hosts two years running.
Hrabal’s size is his calling card, but his game is far from one-dimensional. “He’s an impressive kid,” said Utah’s Director of Player Development, Lee Stempniak. “His presence in the net is commanding, but his athleticism and puck-tracking are what make him special.”.
Michael Hrabal was an absolute BEAST in net for UMass over the weekend vs. #1 BC!
Here are just SOME of his highlights from the two games 😱 pic.twitter.com/N1Fx2XWKBa
— High Character (@HighCharacter_) February 17, 2025
Hrabal told KSL Sports during his interview on the Utah Puck Report that he patterns his game after Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger, leveraging his long legs and quick lateral movement to seal the ice and frustrate shooters.
Still, he’s refining his technique, particularly tightening gaps in his butterfly, as he prepares for the professional leap. Hrabal turned down a contract offer from the Mammoth this summer.
For now, Hrabal remains committed to UMass, majoring in sports management and prioritizing development over rushing to the NHL.
“As a goalie, there’s no rush,” Hrabal said at Utah’s development camp. “I’m young, and more practice time at UMass is key.”
With Utah’s goaltending depth including Karel Vejmelka and Connor Ingram, Hrabal’s path likely leads to the AHL post-college, but his trajectory suggests he could challenge for an NHL spot sooner than expected. Mammoth fans, keep an eye on Hrabal—he’s the future between the pipes, and his journey is just beginning.
