Luka Gračnar

Luka Gračnar (born 31 October 1993 in Jesenice ) is a Slovenian professional ice hockey goaltender who is under contract with EC Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Hockey League since 2010.

Career

Club career

Gračnar is clear from the junior club HD mladi Jesenice. He debuted in 2008 at the age of 14 years in the Slovenian Hockey League for the club. Two years later he joined the training program of the EC Red Bull Salzburg. In the season 2010/11 he played his first game in the top league of Austria to the away defeat against Graz 99ers.

After a season without the use in the first team, he became the new first-choice goalkeeper in the 2012/13 season by the dismissal of Josh Tordjman. Although well-known competitors had been committed during the season with Alex Auld and Bernd Brückler, Gračnar continued to receive assignments. The Slovene extended his contract by three years thereafter until the 2015 season / 16th

National team career

Gračnar is active internationally for the Slovenian national team. He played several World Championships for the U18 and U20 selections of his country. His previous career highlight was participating in the World Cup 2013 in Sweden and Finland. There he completed two games in the preliminary round against Sweden and Canada. With numerous fine saves he kept his team against the big favorites for a long time in the game.

During the summer breaks the goalkeeper for the Inline Hockey National Team of Slovenia is active.

Awards and achievements

• 2010 Gold medal at the U18 World Youth Championship Division II
• 2010 bronze medal at the U20 World Junior Championships Division I
• 2011 Austrian Champion with the EC Red Bull Salzburg
• 2011 Silver medal at the U18 World Junior Championships Division I
• 2011 Silver medal at the U20 World Junior Championships Division I
• 2011 Best goalkeeper in the U20 Junior World Championship Division I
• 2013 Best goalkeeper in the U20 Junior World Championship Division I

Career Stats

( Key to the goalkeeper stats: GP or Sp = Total Games; W or W = Wins, L = Losses, or N, T or D = Draw or shootout defeat, min = minutes; SOG or ZAT = Shots on goal, GA or GT = Goals against; SO = shutouts, GAA or GTS = Gegentorschnitt; Sv % or SVS % = quota, EN = Empty Net Goal; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )