Vladimir Vujtek
Encyclopedia
Vladimír Vůjtek is a retired ice hockey
right wing
. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens
in the fourth round, 73rd overall, of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
.
in the Czechoslovak Extraliga
before coming to North America
to play for the Western Hockey League
's Tri-City Americans
. He made his NHL debut with Montreal in the 1991–92 season, appearing in two games before returning the Americans. Vůjtek joined the Edmonton Oilers
' organization before the 1992–93 season, and played 70 games with the Oilers over two seasons. During the 1994-95 NHL lockout
, Vůjtek returned to Europe. He remained in the Extraliga and the SM-liiga
of Finland until 1997, where he played for HC Vitkovice
for two seasons and spent one season skating with Ässät
.
Vůjtek returned to the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning
in the 1997–98 season. He played thirty games with the Lightning before being diagnosed with having the Epstein-Barr virus, which took a toll on his energy and eventually had him miss the remainder of the season. After being unsigned by the Lightning, Vůjtek returned to the HC Vitkovice organization for another season.
On July 19, 1999, Vůjtek signed with the Atlanta Thrashers
. During a preseason game against the New York Rangers
, Vujtek was accidentally cut by the skate of forward Valeri Kamensky
and was rushed to the hospital. He received over 100 stitches on his right cheek and underwent over two and a half hours of plastic surgery. After three regular season games with the Thrashers, Vůjtek would again return to the Czech Republic.
After two seasons with HC Sparta Praha
of Extraliga and a successful season with HPK Hameenlinna, Vůjtek returned to the NHL for a third time. Vujtek was signed on July 15, 2002 by then-General Manager Craig Patrick to a one year, $600,000 contract. Although Vujtek showed promise during training camp as a scoring leader, it did not translate into regular season success. Vůjtek opened the 2002-03 NHL season on the second line working with linemates Alexei Kovalev
and Ville Nieminen
. After five games, where Vůjtek recorded one assist, Vůjtek requested his release.
In his NHL career Vůjtek appeared in 110 games scoring seven goals and adding 30 assists.
Vůjtek returned to Europe after his release from the Penguins, where he would play several seasons in the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Switzerland. Vůjtek initially retired after the 2005-06 season after his hometown team HC Vitkovice did not offer him a contract. HC Vitkovice at the time was coached by his father, Vladimír Vůjtek Sr..
Vůjtek skated his final season in the Extraliga with HC Oceláři Třinec
, where he scored nine points in twenty-four games.
teammate Michal Sivek
.
and the KHL
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...
right wing
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the fourth round, 73rd overall, of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
.
Career
Vůjtek played two seasons for HC VítkoviceHC Vítkovice
HC Vítkovice Steel is an ice hockey club based in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, competing in the Czech Extraliga. It plays in the newly reconstructed ČEZ Aréna ....
in the Czechoslovak Extraliga
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:...
before coming to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to play for the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
's Tri-City Americans
Tri-City Americans
The Tri-City Americans are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League, based in Kennewick, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center...
. He made his NHL debut with Montreal in the 1991–92 season, appearing in two games before returning the Americans. Vůjtek joined the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
' organization before the 1992–93 season, and played 70 games with the Oilers over two seasons. During the 1994-95 NHL lockout
1994-95 NHL lockout
The 1994–95 NHL lockout came after a year of NHL hockey that was played without a collective bargaining agreement. The lockout caused the 1994–95 season to be shortened to 48 games.-Background:...
, Vůjtek returned to Europe. He remained in the Extraliga and the 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...
of Finland until 1997, where he played for HC Vitkovice
HC Vítkovice
HC Vítkovice Steel is an ice hockey club based in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, competing in the Czech Extraliga. It plays in the newly reconstructed ČEZ Aréna ....
for two seasons and spent one season skating with Ässät
Ässät
Ässät is an ice hockey team in the Finnish elite league, SM-liiga. They play in Pori, Finland at the Porin jäähalli.-Team history:...
.
Vůjtek returned to the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
in the 1997–98 season. He played thirty games with the Lightning before being diagnosed with having the Epstein-Barr virus, which took a toll on his energy and eventually had him miss the remainder of the season. After being unsigned by the Lightning, Vůjtek returned to the HC Vitkovice organization for another season.
On July 19, 1999, Vůjtek signed with the Atlanta Thrashers
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
. During a preseason game against the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, Vujtek was accidentally cut by the skate of forward Valeri Kamensky
Valeri Kamensky
Valeri Viktorovich Kamensky is a retired Russian hockey player. Before the NHL, he started his career with Khimik Voskresensk in the Soviet Championship League and also played for CSKA Moscow...
and was rushed to the hospital. He received over 100 stitches on his right cheek and underwent over two and a half hours of plastic surgery. After three regular season games with the Thrashers, Vůjtek would again return to the Czech Republic.
After two seasons with 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...
of Extraliga and a successful season with HPK Hameenlinna, Vůjtek returned to the NHL for a third time. Vujtek was signed on July 15, 2002 by then-General Manager Craig Patrick to a one year, $600,000 contract. Although Vujtek showed promise during training camp as a scoring leader, it did not translate into regular season success. Vůjtek opened the 2002-03 NHL season on the second line working with linemates Alexei Kovalev
Alexei Kovalev
Alexei Vyacheslavovich "Alex" Kovalev is a Russian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Atlant Moscow Oblast of the Kontinental Hockey League....
and Ville Nieminen
Ville Nieminen
Ville Nieminen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Playing career:...
. After five games, where Vůjtek recorded one assist, Vůjtek requested his release.
In his NHL career Vůjtek appeared in 110 games scoring seven goals and adding 30 assists.
Vůjtek returned to Europe after his release from the Penguins, where he would play several seasons in the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Switzerland. Vůjtek initially retired after the 2005-06 season after his hometown team HC Vitkovice did not offer him a contract. HC Vitkovice at the time was coached by his father, Vladimír Vůjtek Sr..
Vůjtek skated his final season in the Extraliga with HC Oceláři Třinec
HC Ocelári Trinec
HC Oceláři Třinec is an ice hockey team who play in the Czech Extraliga, the top tier of Czech ice hockey. Their home arena is Werk Arena in Třinec...
, where he scored nine points in twenty-four games.
Retirement
Vůjtek retired after the 2006-07 season. He is now a player-agent for Eurohockey Services, co-managing the agency with former Pittsburgh PenguinsPittsburgh 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...
teammate Michal Sivek
Michal Sivek
Michal Sivek is a former professional ice hockey player who last played for Sparta Praha. He was one of three players acquired from the Washington Capitals for Jaromír Jágr.-Retirement:...
.
Personal
His father, Vladimír Vůjtek Sr., is a head coach with 27 years experience of head coaching experience with teams in the Extraliga and in Russia with both the Russian SuperleagueRussian Superleague
The Russian Superleague , commonly abbreviated as RSL, was the highest division of the main professional ice hockey league in Russia. It was considered the second best league in the world, after the National Hockey League of North America...
and the KHL
Awards
- WHL (West) First All-Star Team 91/92
- CHL Third All-Star Team 91/92
- World Championship All-Star Team 96/97
- World Championship Bronze Medal 96/97
- World Championship Most Goals 96/97
- World Championship Most Points 96/97
- Czech Extraliga Champion 99/00
- SM-liiga All-Star Team 01/02
- SM-liiga Bronze Medal 01/02
- SM-liiga Player of the Month 01/02