Roman Červenka Explained

Roman Červenka
Birth Date:10 December 1985
Birth Place:Prague, Czechoslovakia
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:201
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:NL
Team:SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
Former Teams:Slavia Praha
Avangard Omsk
Lev Praha
Calgary Flames
SKA Saint Petersburg
Piráti Chomutov
Fribourg-Gottéron
ZSC Lions
Ntl Team:Czech Republic
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2003

Roman Červenka[1] (born 10 December 1985) is a Czech professional ice hockey player for the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of the National League (NL). He formerly played for Piráti Chomutov and Slavia Praha of the Czech Extraliga, Avangard Omsk, Lev Praha and SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was the leading goal scorer in the KHL in 2010–11 and was named to the All-Star team in 2011–12 before moving to North America after signing a contract with the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Calgary Flames. He played 39 games in the NHL during the 2012–13 season before returning to Europe.

Internationally, Červenka has played with the Czech Republic national team on several occasions, winning a bronze medal at the 2005 World Junior Championships, gold and bronze at the 2010 and 2011 World Championships, respectively. Additionally, he also represented his country at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Playing career

Červenka began playing with Slavia Praha's junior teams, playing for the under-18 team in 2000–01 and 2001–02, and the under-20 team in 2002–03 and 2003–04. During the 2003–04 season, he also made his Czech Extraliga debut, playing 15 games with the top-level team. After playing for various junior-level and 1 Liga teams during the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons, Červenka rejoined Slavia Praha in 2006–07. In 2008–09, he scored 59 points (28 goals and 31 assists) in 51 games.[2] [3]

Červenka has represented the Czech Republic with the national team on multiple occasions. He earned a bronze medal at the 2005 World Junior Championships. He also played at the 2009 IIHF World Championship and was selected to play for the 2010 Winter Olympics. At the time of the Olympic team selection, Červenka led the Extraliga with 55 points in 35 games.[4] [5]

On 25 May 2010, Červenka signed a two-year contract with Russian club Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).[6] He earned a place on the left wing of the first line alongside his countryman Jaromír Jágr and established himself as a prolific KHL scoring forward. In his first season in the league, Červenka was selected to play in the Kontinental Hockey League All-Star Game, collecting more fan votes than any other skater in the league.[7] Having scored 31 times in the 2010–11 season, Červenka earned the Top Goalscorer award from the KHL.[8]

On 2 May 2012, Červenka signed a one-year contract with a base salary of $975,000 and a maximum of $3.775 million with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). His debut with the team was delayed by the 2012–13 NHL lockout, during which he returned to play for Slavia Praha. He appeared in 9 games for the team, scoring 13 points. He left the team due to injury, then returned to action with Lev Praha of the KHL, but suffered another injury after only five games. He was further sidelined by a blood clot issue that left him out of the Flames' lineup to start the 2012–13 NHL season.[9] Červenka missed the first three games of the season before making his NHL debut on 26 January 2013 in a 4–3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.[10] He scored his first NHL point (an assist) in the following game, against the Colorado Avalanche.[11] Červenka's year with the Flames was disappointing largely due to missing training camp,[12] subpar conditioning, struggling with the English language[13] and coaches finding his defensive zone play to be a liability.[14]

On 16 May 2013, Červenka returned to the KHL after signing a three-year contract with SKA Saint Petersburg.[15] He left after two years and then spent the 2015–16 season with Piráti Chomutov of the Czech Extraliga; he scored 23 goals and provided 38 assists in 49 games during the regular season, ranking first in league scoring.

In March 2016, he signed with HC Fribourg-Gottéron of the Swiss National League (NL).[16] After two seasons in Fribourg, on 23 May 2018, Červenka joined ZSC Lions on a one-year contract. On 20 June 2019, Červenka signed a one-year contract with his third Swiss club, SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers, to remain in the NL.[17]

Personal life

Červenka is Orthodox Christian, after Jaromír Jágr took him to churches in Omsk where he would be baptized.[18] His younger brother Marek (born 1992) is a professional football player.[19]

International play

He represented Czechia at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a gold medal.[20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
2000–01HC Slavia PrahaCZE U1841 4 8 12 142 0 0 0 2
2001–02HC Slavia Praha CZE U1841 30 23 53 36 2 1 0 1 2
2002–03HC Slavia PrahaCZE U2048 19 13 32 443 0 1 1 6
2003–04HC Slavia PrahaCZE U2034 20 33 53 902 0 1 1 0
2003–04HC Slavia PrahaELH15 0 1 1 2
2003–04HC Kometa BrnoCZE-23 1 1 2 2
2004–05HC Slavia PrahaCZE U209 3 5 8 22
2004–05HC VČE Hradec Králové, a.s.CZE-223 15 8 23 28
2004–05 HC Rebel Havlíčkův BrodCZE-31 0 1 1 012 6 1 7 20
2005–06HC Slavia PrahaCZE U2010 6 6 12 6
2005–06HC Slavia PrahaELH22 0 0 0 12
2005–06HC VČE Hradec Králové, a.s.CZE-27 1 2 3 14
2005–06HC Slovan Ústečtí LviCZE-2 U202 1 3 4 0
2005–06HC Slovan Ústečtí LviCZE-223 7 6 13 2211 1 3 4 16
2006–07HC Slavia PrahaELH51 6 6 12 546 3 1 4 6
2007–08HC Slavia PrahaELH41 19 11 30 7214 4 4 8 20
2008–09HC Slavia PrahaELH51 28 31 59 5618 13 11 24 20
2009–10HC Slavia PrahaELH50 30 43 73 5616 9 15 24 34
2010–11Avangard OmskKHL51 31 30 61 5612 5 4 9 4
2011–12Avangard OmskKHL54 23 16 39 1820 11 10 21 4
2012–13HC Slavia PrahaELH9 5 8 13 14
2012–13HC Lev PrahaKHL5 1 2 3 2
2012–13Calgary FlamesNHL39 9 8 17 14
2013–14SKA Saint PetersburgKHL53 14 25 39 3410 6 11 17 8
2014–15SKA Saint PetersburgKHL55 13 23 36 2222 2 5 7 10
2015–16Piráti ChomutovELH49 23 38 61 968 3 6 9 12
2016–17HC Fribourg–GottéronNLA44 16 35 51 32
2017–18HC Fribourg–GottéronNL32 13 24 37 285 1 4 5 4
2018–19ZSC LionsNL22 5 16 21 8
2019–20SC Rapperswil–Jona LakersNL32 14 27 41 30
2020–21SC Rapperswil–Jona LakersNL49 16 35 51 639 1 6 7 10
2021–22SC Rapperswil–Jona LakersNL52 20 44 64 307 2 4 6 4
2022–23SC Rapperswil–Jona LakersNL43 16 43 59 606 1 2 3 8
2023–24SC Rapperswil–Jona LakersNL47 12 28 40 28
ELH totals288 111 138 249 36270 32 37 69 94
KHL totals218 82 96 178 13264 24 30 54 26
NHL totals39 9 8 17 14
NL totals321 112 252 364 27927 5 16 21 26

International

YearTeamEventResultGP G A Pts PIM
2005Czech RepublicWJC7 1 0 1 8
2009Czech RepublicWC6th7 2 1 3 2
2010Czech RepublicOG7th5 0 2 2 0
2010Czech RepublicWC9 1 1 2 2
2011Czech RepublicWC9 4 6 10 4
2014Czech RepublicOG6th5 2 0 2 2
2014Czech RepublicWC4th10 2 3 5 4
2015Czech RepublicWC4th10 2 3 5 0
2016Czech RepublicWC5th8 2 5 7 2
2016Czech RepublicWCH6th2 0 0 0 0
2017Czech RepublicWC7th8 3 3 6 4
2018Czech RepublicOG4th6 3 1 4 4
2018Czech RepublicWC7th8 0 2 2 8
2022CzechiaOG9th4 2 3 5 0
2022CzechiaWC10 5 12 17 10
2023CzechiaWC8th8 3 6 9 0
2024CzechiaWC1038114
Junior totals71018
Senior totals11934569046

Awards and honours

AwardYear
KHL
KHL Best Sniper Award2010–11[21]
Golden Helmet Award2011–12[22]
Gagarin Cup champion2015
International
World Championship All-Star Team2022[23]
World Championship All-Star Team2024

Notes and References

  1. http://www.praguepost.com/sports/8680-czechs-take-hockey-bronze.html Prague Post
  2. Web site: Roman Cervenka . Elite Prospects . 2 January 2010.
  3. Web site: Roman Cervenka . Eurohockey . 2 January 2010.
  4. Web site: Czech Republic finalizes Olympic hockey squad . The Sports Network . 30 December 2009 . 2 January 2010.
  5. Web site: Provisional Rosters . International Ice Hockey Federation . 2 January 2010.
  6. Web site: Чемпион мира, лучший нападающий Чемпионата Чехии подписал двухлетний контракт с "Авангардом". The World Champion signs a two-year contract . Avangard Omsk . ru. 25 May 2010 . 26 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100527112223/http://www.hawk.ru/news/5657.html. 27 May 2010.
  7. Web site: Fans' Choice . KHL . 14 January 2011 . 19 January 2011.
  8. Web site: The League's Finest . KHL . 20 May 2011 . 24 May 2011.
  9. News: Sportak . Randy . Newcomer Cervenka won't be starting camp . Calgary Sun . 7 January 2013 . S8.
  10. News: Maki . Alan . Flames respond to early-season struggles with 4–3 win over Oilers . Globe and Mail . 27 January 2013 . 27 January 2013.
  11. News: Paul Stastny scores twice to lead Avs past Flames . ESPN . 31 January 2013 . 1 February 2013.
  12. News: Francis. Eric. Roman Cervenka was a risk worth taking for Calgary Flames. Calgary Sun. 2013-05-15.
  13. News: Sportak. Randy. Flames' Cervenka shows he deserves another look. 6 September 2016. Calgary Sun.
  14. News: Gilbertson. Wes. Flames forward Roman Cervenka has signed with St. Petersburg of the KHL. 6 September 2016. Calgary Sun. 2013-05-15.
  15. News: Flames' Cervenka signs with KHL team . sortsnet.ca . 16 May 2013. Luke. Fox.
  16. Web site: Le champion du monde Roman Červenka renforcera Fribourg-Gottéron pour la saison 2016/2017 HC Fribourg-Gottéron. www.gotteron.ch. 2016-03-23.
  17. Web site: Roman Cervenka wird ein SCRJ Lakers . lakers.ch . 12 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190620174221/https://www.lakers.ch/news/club-news/986-roman-cervenka-wird-ein-scrj-lakers . 20 June 2019 . de-CH . 20 June 2019.
  18. https://www.sports.ru/tribuna/blogs/brainwork/536510.html Роман Червенка: «Ягр требовал, чтобы я платил ему за работу пресс-атташе»
  19. https://www.idnes.cz/fotbal/prvni-liga/marek-cervenka-fotbal-teplice.A160729_2262942_fotbal_ald Roman je můj vzor, říká fotbalista Červenka o bratrovi hokejistovi
  20. Web site: Czechs strike gold on home ice . IIHF.com . 26 May 2024 . 26 May 2024.
  21. News: Duhatschek . Eric . 2 May 2012 . Flames splash cash to sign Roman Cervenka . https://web.archive.org/web/20120503170601/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/flames-splash-cash-to-sign-roman-cervenka/article2420464/ . 2012-05-03 . 25 May 2012 . The Globe and Mail.
  22. News: Busby . Ian . Flames signee a KHL all-star . Calgary Sun . 25 May 2012 . S7.
  23. Web site: Olkinuora MVP, All-Stars named. IIHF. 29 May 2022.