Jan Marek (ice hockey b. 1979)
Jan Marek ( born December 31, 1979 in Jindřichův Hradec, Czechoslovakia, † September 7, 2011 in Tunoschna near Yaroslavl, Russia) was a Czech professional ice hockey player during his career, among others, the HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk, HK CSKA Moscow Atlant Mytischtschi and locomotive Yaroslavl was under contract in the Continental Hockey League.
Career
January Marek comes from the offspring of HC Hradec Vajgar, for whom he made his debut in the U18 Extraliga 1995. Two years later he made his debut in the men's team his home club which was playing in the second-rate first league. In the summer of 1998, he decided on a change to the class HC Třinec, he saw better opportunities for development there. During the season 1998/99 he completed 38 Extraliga appearances for Třinec and played otherwise at the U20 Junior of the same association. The following season he was initially fixed for Extraliga squad of Třinec, but was loaned end of the season at his hometown club. In addition, he played three games for the HC Slezan Opava in the first league.
In the following three years he improved his offensive performance significantly, so that he was awarded at the end of the 2002 /03 top scorer Extraliga. Due to the benefits shown he was selected during the NHL Entry Draft in 2003 by the New York Rangers at point 243. But he is not moved to North America, but signed a contract with HC Sparta Prague. At Sparta he was able to confirm his previous performances, reaching with his new club in 2006, the Czech Championship. In addition, he was honored as top scorer of the Extraliga and had the best plus / minus value of all extra league player on.
After winning the title with Sparta, he got a contract offer from the Russian top club Metallurg Magnitogorsk, which he accepted. Already in his first season in the Russian Super League, he became Russian Champion with Metallurg. In addition, he won with his new team the IIHF European Champions Cup in 2008, where he was one of the best scorers of his team.
In October 2008 he was awarded in the KHL as Offensive Player of the Month. In addition, he was one of the best scorers of the Champions Hockey League 2008 /09.
As of 2010 stood at HK Marek CSKA Moscow under contract. In January 2011 he was engaged by Atlant Mytischtschi. For the season 2011/12 he received a contract with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. On September 7, 2011, he died in a plane crash near Yaroslavl killed.
Internationally
His debut in the Czech national was January Marek in April 2002 in a friendly against Sweden, his first World Cup he played in 2007. During the 2010 World Cup he won with the Czech Selection the gold medal and a year later won the striker with the Czech Republic the bronze medal. Overall, he scored 36 goals and 30 assists in 139 internationals.
After his death in September 2011 his jersey number # 15 was blocked by the Czech Ice Hockey Association for all national teams.
Awards and achievements
- 2003 top scorer of the Extraliga
- 2006 top scorer and best plus / minus value of the Extraliga
- 2006 Czech champion
- 2007 Champion of Russia
- 2008 KHL striker of October
- 2009 KHL All-Star Game
- 2010 Gold medal at the World Championships
- 2011 bronze medal at the World Championships
Career Stats
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )