Jiří Dudáček
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Right Wing |
| Height Weight |
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg/12 st 2 lb) |
| Nationality |  Czechoslovakia |
| Born | April 4, 1962 , Kladno, CS |
| NHL Draft | 17th overall, 1981 Buffalo Sabres |
| Pro career | 1978 – 1991 |
Jiří Dudáček (born April 4, 1962, in Kladno, Czechoslovakia) is a former professional ice hockey right wing. He was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first Czechoslovak player to be selected in the first round of a National Hockey League draft. Dudáček was a star for the Czechoslovak team at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 1980 and 1981, and was considered by many NHL scouts to be the top junior prospect in the 1981 draft class.[1]
As Czechoslovakia was a Communist country at the time of Dudáček's drafting, bringing him to North America was a difficult proposition for the Sabre organization. Dudáček's father was also a high-ranking Communist party member.
While other teams helped Czechoslovak players sneak out of their homeland to come to the NHL, Sabres general manager Scotty Bowman attempted to convince Czechoslovak officials to legally allow Dudáček to come to Buffalo. All efforts were declined by the Czechoslovak sports authorities, though, claiming Dudáček was "too young" to leave the country.[2][3]
Contents |
[edit] Playing career
Dudáček played for the Czechoslovak national ice hockey team in the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cups. He was among Czechoslovakia's leading scorers in 1981, tallying four goals and two assists in six games.[4] In 1984, he went scoreless in four games.[5]
Dudáček never made it to North America to play for the Sabre organization. Instead, he spent his career playing for HC Kladno and HC Jihlava in the Czechoslovak Extraliga, until his retirement in 1991.
[edit] Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1988-89 Kladno Poldi Czech 40 17 20 37 28
1990-91 Kladno Poldi Czech 43 11 14 25 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ 1981 NHL Entry Draft - Jiri Dudacek
- ^ CNNSI.com - Hockey - Say It Ain't So: Buffalo Sabres - Thursday December 06, 2001 11:46 AM
- ^ 1981 NHL Entry Draft - Jiri Dudacek
- ^ Hockey Hall of Fame - Pro Classics: Canada Cup 1981 Czechoslovakia Team Roster
- ^ Hockey Hall of Fame - Pro Classics: Canada Cup 1984 Czechoslovakia Team Roster
|
|||||
