Tobias Tvrznik, an 18-year-old goaltender from Litoměřice, Czechia, was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the fourth round, 126th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-4 netminder catches with his right hand and ranked among the top eight North American goaltenders on NHL Central Scouting’s final list heading into draft weekend.
Tvrznik comes from a hockey family — his father, Daniel, was a professional forward and longtime coach who actually tried to steer his son away from the goaltending position, without success. Tobias went on to develop at Sparta Praha under former NHL goaltender Michal Neuvirth before making the jump to North America. He announced himself in dramatic fashion, stopping 60 shots in his WHL debut to tie a franchise record that had stood for nearly three decades, and he went on to earn a finalist nod for the WHL’s Goaltender of the Year award along with a Western Conference Second All-Star Team selection.
Tvrznik played his draft season with the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild, going 16-18-4 with a 3.10 GAA, a .913 save percentage, and one shutout across 39 games, continuing his development as one of the more well-rounded young goaltenders to come out of the WHL this year. He’s committed to play college hockey at Ohio State.
Stats and info via InGoal Magazine, EliteProspects.com and other media reporting
Frequently Asked Questions
What team drafted Tobias Tvrznik? Tobias Tvrznik was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the fourth round, 126th overall, in the 2026 NHL Draft.
What team did Tobias Tvrznik play for before the draft? He played for the Wenatchee Wild in the WHL, after developing in the Czech system at Sparta Praha.
What makes Tobias Tvrznik’s path notable? His father tried to talk him out of playing goal, and he made his WHL debut with a 60-save effort that tied a 29-year-old franchise record.
What’s Tobias Tvrznik’s playing style? Scouts describe him as a big, well-rounded goaltender, named a finalist for the WHL’s top goaltending award and a Western Conference All-Star as a rookie.
Where will Tobias Tvrznik play college hockey? He’s committed to Ohio State University.
