CZECH IT OUT: THREE EUROS MAKING A HOME IN DES MOINES

CZECH IT OUT: THREE EUROPEAN ROOMMATES MAKING A HOME IN DES MOINES

Jan 24, 2025

On the west side of the Des Moines city center, there is an eclectic mix of apartments and mid-century homes that house families, college students, and young professionals. If you were to walk in at dinner time, only one of them would feature a 23-year-old Slovakian making burritos for his Czech roommates. 

“Sammy is a really good cook,” said Adam Raska about Samuel Hlavaj. “Crispy rice, chicken, vegetables, sour cream, and he does his own buffalo sauce.” 

The forward and goaltender live with second-year defenseman David Spacek, who appreciates the company. 

“I lived alone my rookie year, but I always wanted to be with someone,” said Spacek. “This year, it worked out with Sammy and Adam. I just asked if they wanted to live together and they said yes and we made it happen.” 

The three players speak Czech almost exclusively at home, with some English phrases sprinkled in. Raska, who spent the second half of the 2023-24 season living alone after getting traded to Iowa, says he appreciates the familiarity of hearing his native language at home. 

“It’s really nice when you’re out here overseas and you have someone to talk to,” said Raska. “Not just over the phone to family, but you can talk to someone at home in your language.” 

“The Czech and Slovak languages are basically the same, with a couple different words and a few that have different meanings,” said Spacek.  

“I understand everything that they say, and they understand most of what I say,” said Hlavaj. “I think they struggle a little more sometimes with their language than I do.” 

Each player previously had roommates throughout their journey to the AHL, and Spacek lived with a billet family during his time with the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the QMJHL. 

“When you live in a billet, you don’t have to cook or worry too much about grocery shopping,” said Spacek “It gives you something to do after practice. You can go to the grocery store and try to make something for yourself. It can be a challenge, but I like it.” 

While Raska and Spacek are both capable of cooking for themselves, they both cite Hlavaj as being the most advanced in the culinary department. Hlavaj says he learned to cook from watching his father as a kid. 

“I would watch him at home and he taught me a lot of stuff,” said Hlavaj. “When I started to live alone, I had to do it myself.” 

Like most roommate situations for those in their early twenties, there are spats here and there.  

“I don’t think someone from here would understand how we talk to each other,” said Raska. “There’s always some kind of chirping, but it’s friendly, like brothers.” 

“Rasky would be the messiest,” said Spacek. “Sammy and I are tidier, that’s for sure. You’ve just got to boss him around a little bit. You tell him to throw things out and not leave them around the house.” 

The differences include their recollections of how Raska ended up with the house’s master bedroom. Raska claims that the decision was made based on pecking order, while Hlavaj and Spacek say that the decision was made on technical grounds. 

“Sammy is the oldest, but he’s a rookie so he can’t have it,” said Raska. “Spacek is younger than me so obviously I had to have it.” 

“The only reason for that is because he has a king-sized bed,” said Hlavaj. “He was like, ‘I have to get the big room,’ and we just said to take it.” 

“I didn’t really want the big room, so I said he could have it,” said Spacek. 

In person, the complaints and differences come off as good-natured ribbing, and it’s clear that they each value each other’s company. 

“You are never bored,” said Hlavaj. “Sometimes we get under each other’s skin, but it’s good to have someone to talk to during the day and not be alone.” 

Back to All