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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Čechmánek with the Philadelphia Flyers in March 2003 | |||
| Born |
2 March 1971 Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia | ||
| Died |
12 November 2023 (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
editČechmánek 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
editČechmánek 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
editČechmánek 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
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ Shared with teammate Robert Esche and Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Roman Cechmanek Stats". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Roman Cechmanek – HockeyDB". Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "2000 Draft Choices". www.nhl.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Flyers Sign Goaltender Roman Cechmanek". Philadelphia Flyers. 17 July 2000. Archived from the original on 18 September 2000. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres Box Score — April 21, 2001". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Playoff Team: Records Fewest Goals, One Team, Five-Game Playoff Series". records.nhl.com. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Parent, Rob (26 April 2002). "Goalie's loyalty questioned". The Reporter. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ Hockey Hall of Fame. "HHOF | Silverware Trophy Tour". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "What Happened to Roman Cechmanek?". 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Goaltender Acquired". Los Angeles Kings. 28 May 2003. Archived from the original on 8 June 2003. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Roman Cechmanek". TSN.ca. Archived from the original on 6 September 2005. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "Roman CECHMANEK". Olympics.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "1998 Nagano Olympic Winter Games Men's Tournament". teamusa.usahockey.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Roman Cechmanek at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Zemřel Roman Čechmánek (†52), šampion z Nagana a mistr světa". iSport.cz (in Czech). 12 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide. p. 314.
- ^ "Elite Prospects - Award - Czech Extraliga Best Goalie". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "2001 NHL All-Star Game Rosters". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Postseason All-Star Teams". records.nhl.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "William M. Jennings Trophy". records.nhl.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Roman Cechmanek at eliteprospects.com". www.eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database