Jirí Holecek
Encyclopedia
Jiří Holeček is a retired ice hockey
goaltender
who played in the Czechoslovak Elite League
from 1964 to 1979, and on the Czechoslovak national team for many years.
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
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.
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...
who played in the Czechoslovak Elite League
Czechoslovak Extraliga
The Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League was the elite ice hockey league in Czechoslovakia from 1930 until 1993, when the country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Slovak Extraliga and Czech Extraliga formed from the split.-See also:...
from 1964 to 1979, and on the Czechoslovak national team for many years.
After beginning his career on the Košice
HC Košice
Hockey Club Košice is a professional ice hockey team playing in the Slovak Extraliga and is one of the most successful hockey teams in Slovakia and the former Czechoslovakia.-Honours:* Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League* 1985–86, 1987–88...
team in 1964-65, Holecek played for Sparta Prague
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...
from 1965 to 1976 (except 1969-71, when he played for Jihlava
HC Jihlava
HC Dukla Jihlava, founded in 1956, is an ice hockey team in the Czech Republic. It won the Czechoslovak Extraliga title 12 times: six consecutive championships beginning in 1967, then in 1974, four consecutive championships beginning in 1982, and again in 1991. As of 2006, HC Jihlava plays in...
). From 1976 to 1979 he played for České Budějovice
HC 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...
. 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
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
(leading the team to gold in 1972, 1976, and 1977), being named the best goaltender five times. He played at the 1972
Ice hockey at the 1972 Winter Olympics
At the 1972 Winter Olympics held in Sapporo, Japan, one ice hockey event was held: men's ice hockey. Games were held at the Makomanai Ice Arena and at the Tsukisamu Indoor Skating Rink.-Team USA:...
and 1976 Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1976 Winter Olympics
At the 1976 Winter Olympics held in Innsbruck, Austria, the USSR team won the Gold Medal in ice hockey. Star forward, Valeri Kharlamov scored the game-winning goal in the final game. Games were held at the Olympiahalle Innsbruck.-Highlights:...
and the 1976 Canada Cup
1976 Canada Cup
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991...
.
Holecek finished his playing career in 1981 in Germany. In 1980s he worked as a coach of the Czechoslovak national ice hockey team
Czechoslovak national ice hockey team
The Czechoslovak national men's ice hockey team was one of the world's premiere teams during the Soviet dominated international hockey era, often fighting Sweden for second place but sometimes beating the Soviets...
goaltenders. He was inducted into the IIHF hall of fame in 1998.
Currently, he is working as goalie coach for one of the Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
junior hockey teams called HC Hvězda Praha.