Alexander Salak
Encyclopedia
Alexander Salák is a professional ice hockey
goaltender
currently playing with the Chicago Blackhawks
of the National Hockey League
.
organization during the 2001/02 season.
Salák played from 2002 to 2006 for Budějovice, playing in the U18 and U20 Championship leagues. During the 2005/06 season, he played 2 games for HC Strakonice, a 2. Czech Liga-team. In the following season, Salák spent the entire season playing for HC Tabor
at the same level.
in 2006, when he played for Mestis
team Jokipojat
on the second highest level of ice hockey in Finland. For the next season he was contracted to SM-liiga
side TPS
. In TPS, Salák is coached by TPS Goaltending Coach, Urpo Ylönen
who has coached top Finnish goalies like Miikka Kiprusoff
, Fredrik Norrena
and Antero Niittymäki
in the past.
of the NHL. He was assigned to their AHL farm team, the Rochester Americans
after training camp. He was recalled by the Panthers and made his NHL debut on October 9, 2009 in a relief role in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes
. On August 13, 2010, Alexander Salák was loaned to Färjestads BK
of the Swedish Elite League for the 2010-11 season.
, along with forward Michael Frolík
for Jack Skille
, Hugh Jessiman
, and David Pacan. On May 31, 2011, Salak was signed by the Blackhawks to a two-year contract.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing with the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
Early Career in Czech Republic
Alexander Salák started his career in HC Pisek and moved to HC České BudějoviceHC Ceské Budejovice
HC Mountfield České Budějovice are a professional men's ice hockey club, based in České Budějovice in the Czech Republic. The club plays home games at Budvar Arena, and are members of the Czech Extraliga...
organization during the 2001/02 season.
Salák played from 2002 to 2006 for Budějovice, playing in the U18 and U20 Championship leagues. During the 2005/06 season, he played 2 games for HC Strakonice, a 2. Czech Liga-team. In the following season, Salák spent the entire season playing for HC Tabor
HC Tábor
HC Tábor is an ice hockey team in Tábor, Czech Republic. They play in the Czech 1.liga, the second level of ice hockey in the Czech Republic. The club was founded in 1921....
at the same level.
Career in Finland
Alexander Salák was contracted to FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in 2006, when he played for Mestis
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
team Jokipojat
Jokipojat
Jokipojat is a Finnish semi-professional ice hockey team that plays in the Mestis. Full name of the club is Joensuun Kiekko ry. The club has spent three seasons in top flight of Finnish hockey, season 1971-72 in SM-sarja and seasons 1989-90 and 1991-92 in SM-liiga...
on the second highest level of ice hockey in Finland. For the next season he was contracted to SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
side TPS
TPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
. In TPS, Salák is coached by TPS Goaltending Coach, Urpo Ylönen
Urpo Ylönen
Urpo Yrjö Juhani Ylönen is a goaltending coach and a retired professional ice hockey player who played in the SM-liiga. He played for TuTo and TPS. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 and to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997...
who has coached top Finnish goalies like Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He has also played for TPS of the Finnish SM-liiga...
, Fredrik Norrena
Fredrik Norrena
Fredrik Jan Elis Norrena is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Linköping of the Swedish Elitserien.- Playing career :...
and Antero Niittymäki
Antero Niittymäki
Antero Pertti Elias Niittymäki is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently a member of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League. He has previously played for the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning, as well as in the SM-liiga and the American Hockey League...
in the past.
Florida Panthers
On May 29, 2009, Alexander Salák was signed by the Florida PanthersFlorida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
of the NHL. He was assigned to their AHL farm team, the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
after training camp. He was recalled by the Panthers and made his NHL debut on October 9, 2009 in a relief role in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
. On August 13, 2010, Alexander Salák was loaned to Färjestads BK
Färjestads BK
Färjestads Bollklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey team based in Karlstad. Färjestad has had 18 Swedish Championship final appearances, winning nine times since Elitserien was started in 1975. The team plays in the highest Swedish league, and have done so since 1965...
of the Swedish Elite League for the 2010-11 season.
Chicago Blackhawks
On February 9, 2011, Salák was traded by the Panthers to the Chicago BlackhawksChicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, along with forward Michael Frolík
Michael Frolik
Michael Frolík is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
for Jack Skille
Jack Skille
Jack Skille is an American professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League . He was previously a member of the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team and the Chicago Blackhawks. The highly-regarded forward was drafted by the...
, Hugh Jessiman
Hugh Jessiman
Hugh Jessiman is a professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League...
, and David Pacan. On May 31, 2011, Salak was signed by the Blackhawks to a two-year contract.