David Volek
Encyclopedia
David Volek is a Czech former professional ice hockey
player.
Volek was born in the former Czechoslovakia
, where he played in 1983–84 for HC Slavia Prague
. He later moved to HC Sparta Praha
and became a member of the Czecholovakian national ice hockey team for the 1988 Winter Olympics
. In 1988 he gained permission from the Czech authorities to visit his parents in West Germany
and used this permission to defect to Canada
. He joined the New York Islanders
, having been selected by them in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft
, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team
in 1988–89.
Volek is best remembered for scoring an overtime goal that eliminated the favoured and two-time defending Stanley Cup
champion Pittsburgh Penguins
from the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs
. The goal came at 5:16 of overtime in the seventh (and deciding) game of the second round of the playoffs. The Islanders have not won a playoff series since. CBC
Hockey Night in Canada
announcer Chris Cuthbert called Volek's play in a dramatic fashion:
The next year, a herniated disc forced Volek to retire from the NHL. Volek finished his NHL career, which was spent exclusively with the Islanders, with 95 goals and 154 assists for 249 points. He underwent back surgery the following year in an attempt to return to the game, but after five games with HC Sparta Praha, he was forced to retire for good.
Volek is since 2005 the assistant coach of HC Sparta Praha. Between his retirement from playing in 1996 and 2005 he was a scout
.
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...
player.
Volek was born in the former Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, where he played in 1983–84 for HC Slavia Prague
HC Slavia Prague
HC Slavia Praha is a Czech ice hockey team located in Prague playing the Czech Extraliga. It plays home games in the O2 Arena in Prague...
. He later moved to HC Sparta Praha
HC Sparta Praha
HC Sparta Praha is a Prague based Czech ice hockey team playing in Czech Extraliga.-Team History:Founded in 1903 by Canadian expatriate Lyle P. O'Connor, HC Sparta Praha was among the first bandy teams to play on a semi-professional level in the Austro-Hungarian Empire...
and became a member of the Czecholovakian national ice hockey team for the 1988 Winter Olympics
1988 Winter Olympics
The 1988 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 13 to 28 February 1988. The host was selected in 1981 after having beat Falun, Sweden and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy...
. In 1988 he gained permission from the Czech authorities to visit his parents in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
and used this permission to defect to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He joined the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, having been selected by them in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft
1984 NHL Entry Draft
The 1984 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 9, 1984, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.The 1984 Entry Draft was noted for the unusually high number of future Hall of Famers picked, particularly in lower rounds. In addition to Mario Lemieux being taken first overall, Patrick Roy was chosen...
, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team
NHL All-Rookie Team
The NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
in 1988–89.
Volek is best remembered for scoring an overtime goal that eliminated the favoured and two-time defending Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
champion Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
from the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs
1993 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , began at the conclusion of the 1992–93 NHL season on April 18, and ended with the Stanley Cup win on June 9....
. The goal came at 5:16 of overtime in the seventh (and deciding) game of the second round of the playoffs. The Islanders have not won a playoff series since. CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
announcer Chris Cuthbert called Volek's play in a dramatic fashion:
The next year, a herniated disc forced Volek to retire from the NHL. Volek finished his NHL career, which was spent exclusively with the Islanders, with 95 goals and 154 assists for 249 points. He underwent back surgery the following year in an attempt to return to the game, but after five games with HC Sparta Praha, he was forced to retire for good.
Volek is since 2005 the assistant coach of HC Sparta Praha. Between his retirement from playing in 1996 and 2005 he was a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
.