Jiří Holeček

Jiří Holeček
Born	March 18, 1944 Prague, Bohemia and Moravia, Nazi Germany (Occupied Czechoslovakia)
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	163 lb (74 kg; 11 st 9 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Played for	HC Košice HC Sparta Praha
National team	Czechoslovakia
Playing career	1964–1981

Olympic medal record
Representing  Czechoslovakia
Men's ice hockey
	1976 Innsbruck	Team
	1972 Sapporo	Team

Jiří Holeček (born March 18, 1944) is a Czech professional ice hockey coach and former player. Holeček played in the Czechoslovak Elite League from 1964 to 1979, and on the Czechoslovak national team for many years.^[1]

After beginning his career on the Košice team in 1964–65, Holecek played for Sparta Prague from 1965 to 1976 (except 1969–71, when he played for Jihlava). From 1976 to 1979 he played for České Budějovice. Holecek played 488 league games and won six championships, as well as the Czechoslovak Golden Hockey Stick award for the best player in 1974.

He played 164 games for the national team, including ten World Championships (leading the team to gold in 1972, 1976, and 1977), being named the best goaltender five times. He played at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics^[1][2] and the 1976 Canada Cup.

Holecek finished his playing career in 1981 in Germany. In 1980s he worked as a coach of the Czechoslovak national ice hockey team goaltenders. He was inducted into the IIHF hall of fame in 1998.

Currently, he is working as goalie coach for one of the Prague junior hockey teams called HC Hvězda Praha.

References

1. "Czechoslovakia 1972: Players' Info". chidlovski.com. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
2. "Innsbruck ‘76 : Epic Finale / USSR vs CSSR". goironpigs.com. Retrieved November 9, 2010.

External links

• Jiří Holeček profile at Eurohockey.com
• HC Sparta Praha Klub Historie (Czech)
• GOALIE ACADEMY INTERNATIONAL (Czech)