Miroslav Dvořák (ice hockey)

Miroslav Dvořák
Born	(1951-10-11)October 11, 1951 Hluboká nad Vltavou, Czechoslovakia
Died	June 12, 2008(2008-06-12) (aged 56) České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Left
Played for	NHL Philadelphia Flyers CFIHL HC České Budějovice
National team	Czechoslovakia
NHL draft	46th overall, 1982 Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career	1972–1989
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing Czechoslovakia Olympic Games 1976 Innsbruck Team World Championships 1976 Vienna Team 1977 Katowice Team 1974 Helsinki Team 1975 Munich/Düsseldorf Team 1978 Prague Team 1979 Moscow Team 1982 Helsinki Team 1983 Germany Team

Miroslav Dvořák (October 11, 1951 – June 12, 2008), nicknamed "Cookie", was a Czechoslovak professional ice hockey defenseman who played three seasons in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers. He is also well known as a famous player of Czech Extraliga (Czechoslovak) team HC České Budějovice, where he spent most of his active career.

Playing career

In 1967 he started professional ice hockey career playing for HC České Budějovice Junior team and from 1970 became a member of 'senior team'. In the same year Dvořák was named the best defender of World Junior Ice Hockey Championships held in Sweden. During his military service he moved to the army team Dukla Jihlava where he spent 2 seasons. He also played for Czechoslovak national ice hockey team and won 8 medals overall in the Ice Hockey World Championships in years 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982 and 1983 and represented Czechoslovakia on 1976 and 1981 Canada Cups and on 1980 Winter Olympics as well. He was drafted by Philadelphia Flyers in the 3rd round in 1982 and played 3 seasons in North America, playing in the NHL for Philadelphia. He had to wait until his thirties to play NHL, as playing overseas under the age of 30 was strictly prohibited because of sports rules during communism era in Czechoslovakia. He left professional ice hockey after the 88-89 season and went back to Czechoslovakia to play for HC České Budějovice.

Death

Dvořák died in the Czech Republic after a long battle with throat cancer at the age of 56 on June 12, 2008. His family played composer Antonín Dvořák's "New World Symphony" at the funeral.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970–71	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		36				2		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		20	1	1	2	24		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	ASD Dukla Jihlava	TCH			4	7	11			—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	ASD Dukla Jihlava	TCH			14	7	21			—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH			10	18	28			—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		31	9	2	11	18		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH			4	14	18			—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		43	10	16	26	48		—	—	—	—	—
1978–79	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		42	3	19	22	14		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		44	7	17	24	27		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		44	8	27	35	38		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		38	6	20	26	24		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		80	4	33	37	20		3	0	1	1	0
1983–84	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		66	4	27	31	27		2	0	0	0	2
1984–85	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		47	3	14	17	4		13	0	1	1	4
1985–86	ESG Kassel	FRG II		45	13	48	61	36		17	8	23	31	30
1986–87	ESG Kassel	FRG II		34	4	40	44	32		18	4	14	18	12
1987–88	EHC Essen-West	FRG II		36	10	36	46	16		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	TJ Motor České Budějovice	TCH		39	0	10	10	16		—	—	—	—	—
TCH totals				301	44	112	156	219		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				193	11	74	85	51		18	0	2	2	6

• TCH totals do not include statistics from the 1970–71, 1972–73 to 1974–75, and 1976–77 seasons.

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970	Czechoslovakia	EJC
1974	Czechoslovakia	WC		4	0	3	3	4
1975	Czechoslovakia	WC		10	2	4	6	2
1976	Czechoslovakia	OG		6	1	4	5	2
1976	Czechoslovakia	WC		7	0	0	0	4
1976	Czechoslovakia	CC		7	0	1	1	4
1977	Czechoslovakia	WC		9	0	1	1	8
1978	Czechoslovakia	WC		10	0	2	2	4
1979	Czechoslovakia	WC		8	0	0	0	0
1980	Czechoslovakia	OG		5	0	1	1	0
1981	Czechoslovakia	WC		8	1	2	3	4
1981	Czechoslovakia	CC		6	0	3	3	2
1982	Czechoslovakia	WC		10	0	5	5	4
1983	Czechoslovakia	WC		10	0	3	3	14
Senior totals				110	4	29	33	52

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Miroslav Dvořák at Olympijskytym.cz (in Czech)
• Miroslav Dvorak at Olympics.com
• Miroslav Dvorak at Olympics.com
• Miroslav Dvořák at Olympedia (archive)