Josh Mervis currently is on another one of his “amazing” journeys.

The Muskegon Lumberjacks' owner is in Europe this week scouting young hockey players that someday soon could be wearing a Lumberjack jersey.

“People over here are very, very kind and welcoming,” Mervis said in an email. “I truly enjoy my trips here – the Slovak and Czech hospitality is great, but I have learned to say 'no' to the inevitable toasts of friendship – too many of those and I'm unable to tell if a player is good, bad or has wings.”

What this trip proves is that Mervis is dedicated to his mission of finding quality young men, who are blessed with the skill to play hockey at a high level.

Mervis' trip began last weekend when he flew from Indianapolis to Memphis to Amsterdam to Vienna, then drove to Slovakia. He's traveling with William Langer, who has been spotted around Walker Arena during the season.

Langer, from Czechoslovakia, emigrated to Canada when he missed his plane to London in 1968. His stories of helping the first wave of eastern European players to defect from behind the Iron Curtain could produce an Academy Award winning movie.

“Willy is semi-retired and helps us, for which I am eternally grateful,” Mervis said. “He is awesome and he knows everyone. And I mean, everyone.”

On Sunday, their day started with watching a 6 a.m. practice. The remainder of the day they watched four games in three cities. He isn't just watching games, but he's watching European coaches run a practice.

“Often when you're over here, you have to educate the player and the family on the value of education and explain in real terms of how it is possible to achieve not only a chance to be an NHLer, but also to secure for oneself a future beyond ice hockey,” Mervis said.

One of Mervis' previous trips proved to be successful when he landed Pavel Nejezchleb, a native of Zdar and Sazavou in the Czech Republic.

Mervis' first contact with Nejezchleb was in Minnesota, where a U16 Czech team was playing in a tournament. To make a long story short, Mervis recruited Nejezchleb for two years before landing him for his Danville Wings franchise.

“Josh knew that he would have to deliver skilled and talented players in order for the Danville Wings franchise to be successful in the league, and believe me, Josh has an eye for talent,” Nejezchleb said in an email. “It takes a skill to spot and recognize a talent, but it takes a whole other level of skill and dedication to recruit and deliver the talent for your franchse. Josh has both.”

Nejezchleb, one of the brightest prospects in the Czech Republic as a teen, came to Danville, where he played two years. He earned a scholarship from Miami (Ohio) University, earned a bachelor of science degree in marketing and today he is a director of operations for a by-product management company in Indianapolis, Ind.

His hockey career ended his senior year at Miami due to ruptured discs in his back, but the education he received will carry him through the rest of his life. Nejezchleb isn't the only European player Mervis has helped. There are others who earned college degrees, played some professional hockey and are now successful in their careers.

“The bottom line is, if you hear there is a player somewhere, you have to get in your car or the plane or the train and go see them,” Mervis said. “Doesn't matter what the internet does now to flatten the world, you have to go see them yourself. There is no substitute. You just have to work.”

It's that tireless work and unwavering dedication that Mervis brings to his Lumberjacks' organization. The ultimate success of this USHL franchise won't necessarily be judged on how many players make it to the National Hockey League, but how many go on to become educated, productive members of society.

Email: rjrop@muskegonchronicle.com