Roman Čechmánek

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Roman Čechmánek (Czech pronunciation: [ˈroman ˈtʃɛxmaːnɛk]; 2 March 1971 – 12 November 2023) was a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender.[1] He played professionally in the United States, the Czech Republic, and Germany, including in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings from 2000 to 2004.[2] Čechmánek also played for the Czech national team at multiple international tournaments, including seven World Championships.

Roman Čechmánek
Čechmánek with the Philadelphia Flyers in March 2003
Born (1971-03-02)2 March 1971
Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia
Died 12 November 2023(2023-11-12) (aged 52)
Chrudim, Czech Republic
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for HC Zlín
HC Jihlava
HC Olomouc
HC Vsetín
Philadelphia Flyers
Los Angeles Kings
HC Karlovy Vary
Hamburg Freezers
Linköpings HC
HC Třinec
National team  Czech Republic
NHL draft 171st overall, 2000
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career 1989–2009

Playing career

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Čechmánek played for HC Vsetín in the Czech Republic from 1994 to 2000.[1] He was drafted in the sixth round as the 171st overall pick of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.[3] The Flyers traded veteran John Vanbiesbrouck hoping the newly-opened backup goaltender position would encourage Čechmánek, who had previously rejected offers from other NHL teams to come to North America, to sign a contract, which he did a few weeks after the draft.[4][5] In his first season with the Flyers, Čechmánek surprised many by capturing the starting job from Brian Boucher and being one of the best goaltenders in the league. In his first season, he played in the NHL All-Star Game and finished second in voting for the Vezina Trophy.[1] He had a disappointing playoff, however, including allowing five goals in an 8–0 loss in the final game of the Flyers' first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.[6]

The next season Čechmánek had another good year and played fairly well in the first round of the playoffs.[1] However the Philadelphia offense failed, scoring a record-low number of only two goals in five games against the Ottawa Senators.[7] Čechmánek was publicly annoyed at his teammates' performance and was replaced by Boucher in the series-elimination game 5.[8] The next year he had another superior season, sharing the William M. Jennings Trophy with Flyers teammate Robert Esche, and Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils.[9] Čechmánek recorded two shutouts in a second round loss to Ottawa but many blamed him for the loss due to the number of soft goals he allowed in the other four games.[10] At the end of the season he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a second-round draft pick.[11]

Playing behind a mediocre Kings team, Čechmánek had a disappointing season in 2003–04.[1] He returned to the Czech Republic to play with his old team HC Vsetín during the cancelled 2004–05 NHL season.[12] He split the 2005–06 hockey season between HC Karlovy Vary and the Hamburg Freezers.[12] In the beginning of 2007, Čechmánek left Linköpings HC and was replaced by Rastislav Staňa. He then played for HC Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Extraliga for three seasons. He retired following the 2008–09 season.[2]

International play

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Čechmánek was on the Czech national team at both the 1998 Winter Olympics and 2002 Winter Olympics, but did not play any games, instead serving as backup to goaltender Dominik Hašek.[13] Čechmánek won a gold medal in 1998.[14] His other appearances were in the 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2007 World Championships.[15]

Personal life and death

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Čechmánek was born in Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia on 2 March 1971.[1] He died on 12 November 2023, at the age of 52.[16][17]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1988–89 TJ Gottwaldov CSSR Jr 35 3.43
1988–89 TJ Gottwaldov CSSR 1 0 0 0 13 0 0 0.00 1.000
1989–90 TJ Zlín CSSR 2 0 0 0 89 5 0 3.37 .875
1990–91 ASD Dukla Jihlava CSSR 9 447 18 2 2.42 .909
1991–92 TJ DS Olomouc CSSR 13 731 54 0 4.43
1991–92 AC ZPS Zlín CSSR 2 0 1 0 67 8 0 7.73
1991–92 SHK Hodonín CZE-2
1992–93 SHK Hodonín CZE-2
1993–94 TJ Zbrojovka Vsetín CZE-2 41 1.43
1994–95 HC Dadák Vsetín CZE 41 21 12 8 2,413 98 5 2.44 .923 11 9 2 609 24 1 2.36 .924
1995–96 HC Dadák Vsetín CZE 36 22 9 5 2,081 76 4 2.19 .921 13 12 1 783 17 2 1.30 .957
1996–97 HC Petra Vsetín CZE 48 31 11 6 2,760 100 3 2.17 .929 10 9 1 602 10 2 1.00 .966
1997–98 HC Petra Vsetín CZE 41 26 11 4 2,245 77 8 2.06 .934 10 9 1 600 16 1 1.60 .947
1997–98 HC Petra Vsetín EuroHL 5 3 2 307 12 1 2.34 .903 4 2 2 240 10 1 2.50 .915
1998–99 HC Slovnaft Vsetín CZE 36 22 4 10 2,155 67 3 1.87 .938 11 8 3 675 22 1 1.96 .926
1998–99 HC Slovnaft Vsetín EuroHL 2 0 2 119 8 0 4.03
1999–00 HC Slovnaft Vsetín CZE 37 20 10 7 2,141 88 2 2.47 .924 9 6 3 543 15 3 1.66 .944
2000–01 Philadelphia Phantoms AHL 3 1 1 0 160 3 0 1.12 .969
2000–01 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 59 35 15 6 3,431 115 10 2.01 .921 6 2 4 347 18 0 3.12 .891
2001–02 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 46 24 13 6 2,603 89 4 2.05 .921 4 1 3 227 7 1 1.85 .936
2002–03 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 58 33 15 10 3,350 102 6 1.83 .925 13 6 7 867 31 2 2.14 .909
2003–04 Los Angeles Kings NHL 49 18 21 6 2,701 113 5 2.51 .906
2004–05 Vsetínská Hokejová CZE 35 15 18 2 1,974 88 3 2.67 .922
2005–06 HC Energie Karlovy Vary CZE 12 4 7 1 594 29 1 2.93 .915
2005–06 Hamburg Freezers DEL 27 1,535 66 3 2.58 .909 6 2 4 366 17 0 2.78 .910
2006–07 Linköpings HC SEL 26 10 11 4 1,490 67 0 2.70 .905
2006–07 HC Oceláři Třinec CZE 6 4 2 0 371 12 0 1.94 .948 9 5 4 569 20 0 2.11 .943
2007–08 HC Oceláři Třinec CZE 18 4 14 0 977 53 0 3.25 .916
2008–09 HC Oceláři Třinec CZE 34 16 18 0 1,823 99 2 3.26 .916
CZE totals 344 185 116 43 0 19,534 787 31 2.41 .926 73 58 15 4,381 124 10 1.70 .945
NHL totals 212 110 64 28 12,086 419 25 2.08 .919 23 9 14 1,440 56 3 2.33 .909

International

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Medal record
Representing   Czechoslovakia
Men's ice hockey
European Junior Championships
  1989 Soviet Union
World Junior Championships
  1991 Canada
Representing   Czech Republic
Winter Olympics
  1998 Nagano
World Championships
  1996 Austria
  1999 Norway
  2000 Russia
  1997 Finland
  1998 Switzerland
Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1989 Czechoslovakia EJC 6 319 16 0 3.01
1991 Czechoslovakia WJC 3 151 5 1.99
1995 Czech Republic WC 1 0 1 0 60 4 0 4,00 .902
1997 Czech Republic WC 8 5 3 0 479 17 0 2,13 .929
1998 Czech Republic WC 2 2 0 0 108 3 0 1,68 .929
1999 Czech Republic WC 5 3 1 0 197 8 1 2,44 .900
2000 Czech Republic WC 8 7 1 0 480 16 1 2,00 .925
2004 Czech Republic WC 1 1 0 0 60 1 0 1,00 .944
2007 Czech Republic WC 7 3 4 418 18 0 2,58 .894
Junior totals 9 470 21 2.68
Senior totals 32 21 10 0 1,802 67 2 2,23

Awards and honours

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Award Year Ref
Bobby Clarke Trophy 2000–01, 2002–03 [18]
Czech Extraliga Best Goaltender 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99 [19]
NHL All-Star Game 2001 [20]
NHL Second All-Star Team 2000–01 [21]
William M. Jennings Trophy 2002–03[a] [22]
World Championship All-Star Team 2000 [23]

Notes

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  1. ^ Shared with teammate Robert Esche and Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Roman Cechmanek Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Roman Cechmanek – HockeyDB". Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  3. ^ "2000 Draft Choices". www.nhl.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  4. ^ Panaccio, Tim (26 June 2000). "Vanbiesbrouck Traded; Flyers Gamble On Czech". Philly.com. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Flyers Sign Goaltender Roman Cechmanek". Philadelphia Flyers. 17 July 2000. Archived from the original on 18 September 2000. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres Box Score — April 21, 2001". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Playoff Team: Records Fewest Goals, One Team, Five-Game Playoff Series". records.nhl.com. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  8. ^ Parent, Rob (26 April 2002). "Goalie's loyalty questioned". The Reporter. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  9. ^ Hockey Hall of Fame. "HHOF | Silverware Trophy Tour". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  10. ^ "What Happened to Roman Cechmanek?". 25 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Goaltender Acquired". Los Angeles Kings. 28 May 2003. Archived from the original on 8 June 2003. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Roman Cechmanek". TSN.ca. Archived from the original on 6 September 2005. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Roman CECHMANEK". Olympics.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  14. ^ "1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games Men's Tournament". teamusa.usahockey.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Roman Cechmanek at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  16. ^ Meltzer, Bill (12 November 2023). "Flyers Mourn Passing of Roman Cechmanek". Philadelphia Flyers. NHL. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  17. ^ "Zemřel Roman Čechmánek (†52), šampion z Nagana a mistr světa". iSport.cz (in Czech). 12 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  18. ^ 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide. p. 314.
  19. ^ "Elite Prospects - Award - Czech Extraliga Best Goalie". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  20. ^ "2001 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  22. ^ "William M. Jennings Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  23. ^ "Roman Cechmanek at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
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Preceded by Winner of the Bobby Clarke Trophy
2001
2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Tri-winner of the Jennings Trophy
2003
With: Robert Esche and Martin Brodeur
Succeeded by