Roman Horák (ice hockey, born 1991) explained

Roman Horák
Team:HC Sparta Praha
League:ELH
Former Teams:HC České Budějovice
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
HC Vityaz
Växjö Lakers
Ntl Team:CZE
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:175
Birth Date:21 May 1991
Birth Place:České Budějovice, Czechoslovakia
Draft:127th overall
Draft Team:New York Rangers
Draft Year:2009
Career Start:2007

Roman Horák (born May 21, 1991) is a Czech ice hockey player currently playing for HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He previously played nine games in the Czech Extraliga with HC České Budějovice before coming to North America to play two WHL seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round, 127th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and joined the Calgary Flames organization via trade in 2011. In 2014, he was traded by the Flames for a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers.

Playing career

Horák began his professional career with his hometown team HC České Budějovice of the Czech Extraliga, appearing in one game with the club in 2007–08 and eight more in 2008–09. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round, 127th overall, at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.[1] Additionally, Horák was selected by the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Chilliwack Bruins with the eighth overall pick in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) import draft.[2] Though he had little knowledge of English, Horák moved to Canada to join the Bruins for the 2009–10 WHL season.[3]

In his first season in Chilliwack, Horák scored 21 goals and 47 points. He improved to 26 goals and 78 points in 2010–11. Additionally, he represented the Czech Republic at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he had one goal and one assist in six games.[4] [5] He returned to the team for the 2011 tournament, recording one assist in five games in that tournament.[4] [6]

Horák signed a contract with the New York Rangers on May 6, 2011.[7] However, before he played a game with the NHL team, he was traded to the Calgary Flames on June 1, along with two draft picks, in exchange for defenceman Tim Erixon.[8] The Flames discovered Horák while scouting his teammate, and their draft pick, Ryan Howse. The team realized that Howse, a 50-goal scorer in 2010–11, had become far less effective when Horák suffered an injury.[9]

Initially expected to join the Flames' minor league affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League (AHL), to begin the 2011–12 season, Horák exceeded the team's expectations and earned a spot with the Flames. He made his NHL debut and scored his first point, an assist, against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 8, 2011.[10] He scored his first NHL goal on October 26 against Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the Colorado Avalanche.[11]

On November 8, 2013, Horák was traded to the Edmonton Oilers alongside goaltender prospect Laurent Brossoit in exchange for Ladislav Šmíd and minor league goalie Olivier Roy.[12] He was subsequently reassigned by the Oilers to their AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons.

With his NHL rights still owned by the Oilers, Horák opted to return to Europe by signing a one-year contract with Russian club Vityaz Podolsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on May 12, 2014.[13]

Horák played two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League with the Växjö Lakers before opting to return to his native Czech Republic as a free agent. On 13 May 2020, he secured a one-year contract with HC Sparta Praha of the ELH, in which he had not played since the 2008–09 season.[14]

Personal life

His father, Roman Horák, also played hockey in European elite leagues for 14 seasons.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2004–05HC České BudějoviceCZE U1820000
2005–06HC České BudějoviceCZE U18345381030004
2006–07HC MountfieldCZE U18242216383821014
2006–07HC MountfieldCZE U20161456
2007–08HC MountfieldCZE U1823250
2007–08HC MountfieldCZE U20341711281430110
2007–08HC MountfieldELH10000
2008–09HC MountfieldCZE U20311617331420000
2008–09HC MountfieldELH80000
2009–10Chilliwack BruinsWHL662126473962464
2010–11Chilliwack BruinsWHL642652786051230
2011–12Calgary FlamesNHL61381114
2011–12Abbotsford HeatAHL14224680332
2012–13Abbotsford HeatAHL5916143024
2012–13Calgary FlamesNHL202572
2013–14Abbotsford HeatAHL132576
2013–14Calgary FlamesNHL10000
2013–14Oklahoma City BaronsAHL532127481631010
2013–14Edmonton OilersNHL21010
2014–15HC VityazKHL53 18 13 31 26
2015–16HC Vityaz KHL57 15 12 27 32
2016–17HC Vityaz KHL60 16 15 31 3040112
2017–18HC Vityaz KHL54 10 16 26 18
2018–19Växjö LakersSHL50 15 18 33 2471454
2019–20Växjö Lakers SHL52 11 19 30 18
2020–21HC Sparta PrahaELH51 17 30 47 611 3 6 9 2
2021–22HC Sparta PrahaELH51 21 26 47 2416 3 3 6 6
ELH totals 111385694302769158
NHL totals 846131916
KHL totals 224595611510640112

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2007Czech RepublicIH186th42
2008Czech RepublicWJC18 D111th51450
2008Czech RepublicIH185th41
2009Czech RepublicWJC186th62134
2010Czech RepublicWJC7th61120
2011Czech RepublicWJC7th50114
2017Czech RepublicWC7th83360
2018Czech RepublicOG4th60440
2018Czech RepublicWC7th83030
Senior totals2267130

Notes and References

  1. Book: 2011–12 Calgary Flames Media Guide . Calgary Flames Hockey Club . Hanlon . Peter . Kelso . Sean . Ahrens . Janette . Buer . Greg . 2011 . 121.
  2. Book: Flett . Cory . Watts . Jessie . 2009–10 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. 219.
  3. News: Hall . Vicki . Cruickshank . Scott . Horak wins job with Flames . National Post . 2011-10-03 . 2011-12-10 . dead . https://archive.today/20130208125354/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/10/03/horak-wins-job-with-flames/ . 2013-02-08 .
  4. Web site: Kreider, Bourque make final USA cut . New York Rangers Hockey Club . 2010-12-29.
  5. Web site: 2010 Player Statistics by Team: Czech Republic. IIHF. 2010-12-29.
  6. Web site: 2011 Player Statistics by Team: Czech Republic. IIHF. 2011-01-04.
  7. Web site: Rangers, Horak agree to contract terms . New York Rangers Hockey Club . 2011-05-13.
  8. Web site: Flames trade unsigned draft pick Erixon to Rangers . The Sports Network. 2011-06-01 . 2011-06-01.
  9. News: Cruickshank . Scott . Calgary delighted with Horak . . 2011-10-01 . 2011-12-10 . dead . https://archive.today/20120714002731/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/10/01/calgary-delighted-with-horak/ . 2012-07-14 .
  10. Web site: Matt Niskanen nets 2 points as Penguins drop Flames . https://archive.today/20130102192735/http://scores.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=400046795 . dead . January 2, 2013 . ESPN . 2011-10-08 . 2011-10-09.
  11. Web site: Kiprusoff, Flames cool off Avs with 4-2 win . NHL . 2011-10-26 . 2011-10-27.
  12. News: Oilers, Flames complete trade. 2013-11-09. November 8, 2013. CBC.
  13. Web site: Roman Horak in Vityaz . . 2014-05-12 . 2014-05-12.
  14. Web site: In the footsteps of my father . . 13 May 2020 . 13 May 2020 . Czech.