Miroslav Dvořák (ice hockey) explained

Miroslav Dvořák (11 October 1951 – 12 June 2008) was a Czechoslovak ice hockey defenseman. He played three seasons in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers from 1982 to 1985. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1969 to 1989, was mainly spent with HC České Budějovice in the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League. Internationally Dvořák played for the Czechoslovak national team at several Ice Hockey World Championships, winning gold medals in 1976 and 1977, along with six silver medals, and a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

In 1967 Dvořák started his ice hockey career playing for the HC České Budějovice junior team and from 1970 became a member of senior team. In the same year Dvořák was named the best defender of the World Junior Championships held in Sweden. During his military service he moved to the army team Dukla Jihlava where he spent two seasons. He also played for Czechoslovak national ice hockey team and won eight medals overall in the Ice Hockey World Championships in years 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982 and 1983 and represented Czechoslovakia on 1976 and 1981 Canada Cups and on 1980 Winter Olympics as well. He was drafted by Philadelphia Flyers in the 3rd round in 1982 and played three seasons in North America, playing in the National Hockey League for Philadelphia. He had to wait until his thirties to play NHL, as playing overseas under the age of 30 was strictly prohibited because of sports rules during communism era in Czechoslovakia. He left professional ice hockey after the 88–89 season and went back to Czechoslovakia to play for HC České Budějovice.

Death

Dvořák died in the Czech Republic after a long battle with throat cancer at the age of 56 on 12 June 2008. His family played composer Antonín Dvořák's "New World Symphony" at the funeral.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP				PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970–71	TJ Motor České Budějovice			36	4	5	9	2		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		20	1	1	2	24		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	ASD Dukla Jihlava	CSSR		—	4	7	11	—		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	ASD Dukla Jihlava	CSSR		—	14	7	21	—		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		44	10	9	19	34		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		31	9	4	13	18		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		43	4	12	16	26		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		43	11	17	28	34		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		42	3	18	21	14		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		44	7	17	24	27		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		44	8	25	33	38		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		38	7	16	23	24		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		80	4	33	37	20		3	0	1	1	0
1983–84	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		66	4	27	31	27		2	0	0	0	2
1984–85	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		47	3	14	17	4		13	0	1	1	4
1985–86	ESG Kassel	GER-2		45	13	48	61	36		17	8	23	31	30
1986–87	ESG Kassel	GER-2		34	4	40	44	32		18	4	14	18	12
1987–88	EHC Essen-West	GER-2		36	10	36	46	16		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	TJ Motor České Budějovice	CSSR		27	0	7	7	4		12	0	3	3	12
CSSR totals				412	82	145	227	255		12	0	3	3	12
NHL totals				193	11	74	85	51		18	0	2	2	6

International

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Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970	Czechoslovakia	EJC		5	1	0	1	4
1974	Czechoslovakia	WC		4	0	3	3	4
1975	Czechoslovakia	WC		10	2	4	6	2
1976	Czechoslovakia	OLY		6	1	4	5	2
1976	Czechoslovakia	WC		7	0	0	0	4
1976	Czechoslovakia	CC		7	0	1	1	4
1977	Czechoslovakia	WC		9	0	1	1	8
1978	Czechoslovakia	WC		10	0	2	2	4
1979	Czechoslovakia	WC		8	0	0	0	0
1980	Czechoslovakia	OLY		5	0	1	1	0
1981	Czechoslovakia	WC		8	1	2	3	4
1981	Czechoslovakia	CC		6	0	3	3	2
1982	Czechoslovakia	WC		10	0	5	5	4
1983	Czechoslovakia	WC		10	0	3	3	14
Senior totals				110	4	29	33	52