Bobby Holík Explained

Bobby Holík
Birth Date:1 January 1971
Birth Place:Jihlava, Czechoslovakia
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:240
Position:Center
Shoots:Right
Played For:Dukla Jihlava
Hartford Whalers
New Jersey Devils
New York Rangers
Atlanta Thrashers
Ntl Team:Czechoslovakia
Ntl Team 2:Czech Republic
Draft:10th overall
Draft Year:1989
Draft Team:Hartford Whalers
Career Start:1987
Career End:2009

Robert Holík (born January 1, 1971) is a Czech-American former professional ice hockey center who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Holík is the son of Jaroslav Holík, a Czechoslovak ice hockey world champion in 1972 and Czech national team head coach who led the under-20 team to world titles in 2000 and 2001. Holík is the current head coach of the Israel men's national ice hockey team.

Playing career

Holík began his NHL career playing for the Hartford Whalers in 1990 after being selected tenth overall by them in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. After two seasons with the Whalers, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils where he played for ten seasons, featuring as a member of the "Crash Line" alongside Mike Peluso and Randy McKay, and winning two Stanley Cup championships, in 1995 and 2000.[1] Prior to the 2002–03 season, as a free agent, Holík signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the New York Rangers.[2]

In 2005, following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Rangers bought out the remainder of Holík's contract, after which he signed with the Atlanta Thrashers.[3] On October 2, 2007, he was named captain of the Thrashers for the 2007–08 season.

On July 1, 2008, as a free agent, Holík signed a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils for the 2008–09 season, returning to the team he played ten seasons with.[4]

On May 23, 2009, following the conclusion of the 2008–09 season, Holík announced his retirement from the NHL. He was 38 when he retired and cited a focus to be with his family.[5] [6] Since 2017, Holík has run a hockey school in Israel and coached their U-18 and U-20 programs.[7]

Personal life

Holík became an American citizen in a ceremony in Newark, New Jersey, on November 4, 1996. He is married with a daughter, Hannah Marie Holík, born in 1997, and splits his time between Wyoming and Florida.[8]

Holík's nephew, David Musil, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers.

Holík is an avid rifle, pistol and shotgun enthusiast. After being introduced to firearms manufacturer CZ-USA's president Alice Poluchová[9] by shooting instructor Shepard Humphries,[10] Holík became CZ-USA's celebrity representative.[11] [12] [13]

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1987–88ASD Dukla JihlavaCSSR31 7 11 18 16
1988–89ASD Dukla JihlavaCSSR24 7 10 17 3212 3 5 8
1989–90ASD Dukla JihlavaCSSR42 15 26 41
1990–91Hartford WhalersNHL78 21 22 43 1136 0 0 0 7
1991–92Hartford WhalersNHL76 21 24 45 447 0 1 1 6
1992–93New Jersey DevilsNHL61 20 19 39 765 1 1 2 6
1992–93Utica DevilsAHL1 0 0 0 2
1993–94New Jersey DevilsNHL70 13 20 33 7220 0 3 3 6
1994–95New Jersey DevilsNHL48 10 10 20 1820 4 4 8 22
1995–96New Jersey DevilsNHL63 13 17 30 58
1996–97New Jersey DevilsNHL82 23 39 62 5410 2 3 5 4
1997–98New Jersey DevilsNHL82 29 36 65 1005 0 0 0 8
1998–99New Jersey DevilsNHL78 27 37 64 1197 0 7 7 6
1999–2000New Jersey DevilsNHL79 23 23 46 10623 3 7 10 14
2000–01New Jersey DevilsNHL80 15 35 50 9725 6 10 16 37
2001–02New Jersey DevilsNHL81 25 29 54 976 4 1 5 2
2002–03New York RangersNHL64 16 19 35 52
2003–04New York RangersNHL82 25 31 56 96
2005–06Atlanta ThrashersNHL64 15 18 33 79
2006–07Atlanta ThrashersNHL82 11 18 29 864 0 1 1 0
2007–08Atlanta ThrashersNHL82 15 19 34 90
2008–09New Jersey DevilsNHL62 4 5 9 663 0 1 1 2
CSSR totals97 29 47 76 4812 3 5 8
NHL totals1,314 326 421 747 1,421141 20 39 59 120

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1988CzechoslovakiaEJC65272
1989CzechoslovakiaWJC75382
1989Czechoslovakia EJC6311142
1990CzechoslovakiaWJC7651112
1990CzechoslovakiaWC101560
1991CzechoslovakiaWC1033618
1996Czech RepublicWCH30000
Junior totals2619214018
Senior totals23481218

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: HOCKEY; the Devils' Crash Line is Back in Business with a Bit of Help from Brylin. The New York Times. 29 April 1999. Yannis. Alex.
  2. Web site: USATODAY.com - Rangers sign Bobby Holik from rival Devils.
  3. Web site: Next step? Thrashers sign Bobby Holik to $12.75 million deal.
  4. News: Devils ink Holík, Rolston . nypost.com . 2008-07-01 . 2009-05-23 . Mark . Everson.
  5. News: Holík set to retire, focus on family . nypost.com . 2009-05-23 . 2009-05-23 . Mark . Everson.
  6. Web site: Bobby Holik leaves NHL on his own terms. https://archive.today/20120911101523/http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/story/2009-05-23/bobby-holik-leaves-nhl-his-own-terms. dead. 2012-09-11. sportingnews.com. 2009-05-23. 2009-05-23.
  7. News: Brooks . Larry . NHL should not stay silent on IIHF decision to ban Israel over safety concerns . January 13, 2024 . . January 13, 2024.
  8. News: New Jersey Devils center Bobby Holik decides to retire after 18 seasons . The Star-Ledger . May 23, 2009 . Rich . Chere .
  9. Web site: CZ-USA president Alice Poluchova.
  10. Web site: Shepard Humphries.
  11. Web site: Gun ranges in the great state of Wyoming. 11 August 2012.
  12. http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7893{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  13. Web site: CZ-USA -> Bobby Holik . 2012-03-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120314124917/http://www.cz-usa.com/holik/ . 2012-03-14 .