Vladimír Růžička

Vladimír Růžička senior ( born June 6, 1963 in Most, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player of the HC Slavia Prague manages since 2001 in the Czech Extraliga as head coach. In addition, since 2008 he is again head coach of the Czech national team. During his time in North America, he completed a total of 263 games in the National Hockey League for the Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators.

Career as a player

Vladimír Růžička began his career with HC Chemopetrol Litvinov, for whom he made ​​his debut during the 1979/80 season in the Czechoslovak Extraliga. In the summer of 1982, he was selected in the NHL Entry Draft in 1982 in the fourth round at 73rd of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but played until mid- season 1989/90 for the HC Dukla Trencin and HC Chemopetrol and increased his points total from year to year. He won twice during this time the choice for outstanding Czechoslovak player, the Zlata Hokejka. His first stop in North America were the Edmonton Oilers, the NHL rights were purchased at Růžička for a draft pick of the Maple Leafs. The Oilers won the Stanley Cup of the season 1989 / 90th Since Vladimír Růžička was not used during the play-offs, his name was not engraved on the trophy. In October 1990 Růžička is for Greg Hawgood to the Bruins, where he was able to achieve during the 1991/92 season 39 goals and 36 assists.

After the 1992/93 season his contract expired at the Bruins and the Senators committed him as a free agent in August 1993. About the EV train, he returned in 1994 to the Czech Republic back and played until his retirement at HC Slavia Prague. At his farewell game, Vladimír Růžička - Allstars competed against the Jagr Team, which ended with a 12:12 draw. The two teams consisted of former and current NHL players, former stars of the Czechoslovak Extraliga and Vladimír Růžička Junior, who played with his father in a row.

Internationally

Vladimír Růžička has participated in all major international championships during his career. With the Czechoslovak national team, he won a gold, a silver and two bronze medals at the World Championships and the silver medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. After the division of his homeland, he won the Czech national team the gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. Overall, he played more than 200 matches in which he scored 112 goals.

Career as a coach

After his resignation in 2000 Vladimír Růžička began to work as a coach of HC Slavia Prague. In the season 2002/ 03 he led his team to the Czech Championship. From 2002, he also oversaw the Czech national team as assistant coach, this activity ended but 2004. Shortly afterwards died of head coach of the national team, Ivan Hlinka. Then Vladimír Růžička temporarily took over this office and led the Czechs to win the gold medal at the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2005.

After the disappointing performance of the national team at the 2008 World Championship coach Alois Hadamczik stepped back and Růžička took over his post in the national team, but was also coach of Slavia Prague. After winning the Hockey World Cup 2010, he is the national coach posts again to Alois Hadamczik.

Awards and achievements

Statistics

Others

His son Vladimír Růžička junior is also hockey players.