'Vanek moved to Lacombe, Alberta, Canada, from Graz, Austria, at age 14 to pursue his hockey talent. After playing Midget AA in Alberta, he played in the USHL for three seasons in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before being accepted to the University of Minnesota. This past season, he competed internationally for Austria at the 2004 World Junior championship (3+1=4, 6 GP) and at the 2004 World championship. Vanek led the Austrian team with two goals, five assists, and seven points in six games in the World Championship in Prague, Czech Republic.'