Shot Left Name Vladimir Ruzicka Height 1.90 m | Playing career Role Coach Positions Centerman | |
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Born June 6, 1963 (age 60)
Most, TCH ( 1963-06-06 ) Weight 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) National team Czechoslovakia
Czech Republic NHL Draft 73rd overall, 1982
Toronto Maple Leafs Children Vladimir Ruzicka, Eva Ruzickova Played for HC Litvinov, HK Dukla Trencin, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, HC Slavia Praha | ||
Vladimir ruzicka
Vladimir Ruzicka ( [ˈvlaɟɪmiːr ˈruːʒɪtʃka]; born June 6, 1963) is a Czech ice hockey coach and former professional player. Ruzicka was twice named the top player in the Czechoslovak Elite League, and was on the gold medal team in the Ice Hockey World Championship in 1985 and 1998 Olympic Games. He also played 233 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). Since 2008, Ruzicka has been the head coach of both HC Slavia Praha and the Czech national ice hockey team.
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NHL: Vladimir Ruzicka Benched By Ottawa Senators (1994)
Playing career
Ruzicka started his career with Czechoslovak side Litvinov, making his first appearance at the age of 16 and scoring after just 10 seconds in his first game, against Dukla Jihlava. Ruzicka was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs 73rd overall in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Despite this, he was barred from leaving Czechoslovakia by the Communist authorities. He continued to play internationally for Czechoslovakia before finally making his NHL debut in 1989. Ruzicka had a short career in the NHL, playing a total of five seasons for the Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators. His best season statistically came in 1991–92 when he recorded 75 points (39 goals, 36 assists) with Boston, and led the team in scoring. He has a Stanley Cup ring and is on the 1990 Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup team picture. However, Ruzicka only played 25 regular season games and did not appear in the playoffs that season. Thus, his name was not engraved on the Stanley Cup. Ruzicka finished his NHL career with 233 games, scoring 82 goals and 85 assists.
Ruzicka played 200 games for his national team, scoring 112 goals in the process. In 1985 he won a gold medal with Czechoslovakia at the 1985 World Ice Hockey Championships. He captained the gold medal winning Czech Republic team at the 1998 Winter Olympics, going on to retire from the international team after the tournament.
Awards
Coaching career
After retiring as a player in 2000 he started working as a coach in HC Slavia Praha and in 2002–03 and 2007–08 seasons his team won the Czech Extraliga. Between 2002–2004 he was also an assistant coach of the Czech national ice hockey team. Shortly after he left the team, the head coach Ivan Hlinka died and Ruzicka took over the position, leading the Czech Republic team to the Vienna World Championship gold medal in 2005. Ruzicka has coached the Czech national ice hockey team to two gold medals.