Roman Horák (ice hockey, born 1991)

Roman Horák (born May 21, 1991) is a Czech ice hockey player currently playing for HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He previously played nine games in the Czech Extraliga with HC České Budějovice before coming to North America to play two WHL seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round, 127th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and joined the Calgary Flames organization via trade in 2011. In 2014, he was traded by the Flames for a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers.

Roman Horák
Horák with the Czech Republic in 2023
Born (1991-05-21) May 21, 1991 (age 33)
České Budějovice, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
ELH team
Former teams
HC Sparta Praha
HC České Budějovice
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
HC Vityaz
Växjö Lakers
National team  Czech Republic
NHL draft 127th overall, 2009
New York Rangers
Playing career 2007–present

Playing career

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Horák began his professional career with his hometown team HC České Budějovice of the Czech Extraliga, appearing in one game with the club in 2007–08 and eight more in 2008–09. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round, 127th overall, at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.[1] Additionally, Horák was selected by the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Chilliwack Bruins with the eighth overall pick in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) import draft.[2] Though he had little knowledge of English, Horák moved to Canada to join the Bruins for the 2009–10 WHL season.[3]

In his first season in Chilliwack, Horák scored 21 goals and 47 points. He improved to 26 goals and 78 points in 2010–11.[1] Additionally, he represented the Czech Republic at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, where he had one goal and one assist in six games.[4][5] He returned to the team for the 2011 tournament, recording one assist in five games in that tournament.[4][6]

Horák signed a contract with the New York Rangers on May 6, 2011.[7] However, before he played a game with the NHL team, he was traded to the Calgary Flames on June 1, along with two draft picks, in exchange for defenceman Tim Erixon.[8] The Flames discovered Horák while scouting his teammate, and their draft pick, Ryan Howse. The team realized that Howse, a 50-goal scorer in 2010–11, had become far less effective when Horák suffered an injury.[9]

Initially expected to join the Flames' minor league affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League (AHL), to begin the 2011–12 season, Horák exceeded the team's expectations and earned a spot with the Flames.[3] He made his NHL debut and scored his first point, an assist, against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 8, 2011.[10] He scored his first NHL goal on October 26 against Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the Colorado Avalanche.[11]

On November 8, 2013, Horák was traded to the Edmonton Oilers alongside goaltender prospect Laurent Brossoit in exchange for Ladislav Šmíd and minor league goalie Olivier Roy.[12] He was subsequently reassigned by the Oilers to their AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons.

With his NHL rights still owned by the Oilers, Horák opted to return to Europe by signing a one-year contract with Russian club Vityaz Podolsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on May 12, 2014.[13]

Horák played two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League with the Växjö Lakers before opting to return to his native Czech Republic as a free agent. On 13 May 2020, he secured a one-year contract with HC Sparta Praha of the ELH, in which he had not played since the 2008–09 season.[14]

Personal life

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His father, Roman Horák, also played hockey in European elite leagues for 14 seasons.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 HC České Budějovice CZE U18 2 0 0 0 0
2005–06 HC České Budějovice CZE U18 34 5 3 8 10 3 0 0 0 4
2006–07 HC Mountfield CZE U18 24 22 16 38 38 2 1 0 1 4
2006–07 HC Mountfield CZE U20 16 1 4 5 6
2007–08 HC Mountfield CZE U18 2 3 2 5 0
2007–08 HC Mountfield CZE U20 34 17 11 28 14 3 0 1 1 0
2007–08 HC Mountfield ELH 1 0 0 0 0
2008–09 HC Mountfield CZE U20 31 16 17 33 14 2 0 0 0 0
2008–09 HC Mountfield ELH 8 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Chilliwack Bruins WHL 66 21 26 47 39 6 2 4 6 4
2010–11 Chilliwack Bruins WHL 64 26 52 78 60 5 1 2 3 0
2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 61 3 8 11 14
2011–12 Abbotsford Heat AHL 14 2 2 4 6 8 0 3 3 2
2012–13 Abbotsford Heat AHL 59 16 14 30 24
2012–13 Calgary Flames NHL 20 2 5 7 2
2013–14 Abbotsford Heat AHL 13 2 5 7 6
2013–14 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Oklahoma City Barons AHL 53 21 27 48 16 3 1 0 1 0
2013–14 Edmonton Oilers NHL 2 1 0 1 0
2014–15 HC Vityaz KHL 53 18 13 31 26
2015–16 HC Vityaz KHL 57 15 12 27 32
2016–17 HC Vityaz KHL 60 16 15 31 30 4 0 1 1 2
2017–18 HC Vityaz KHL 54 10 16 26 18
2018–19 Växjö Lakers SHL 50 15 18 33 24 7 1 4 5 4
2019–20 Växjö Lakers SHL 52 11 19 30 18
2020–21 HC Sparta Praha ELH 51 17 30 47 6 11 3 6 9 2
2021–22 HC Sparta Praha ELH 51 21 26 47 24 16 3 3 6 6
ELH totals 111 38 56 94 30 27 6 9 15 8
NHL totals 84 6 13 19 16
KHL totals 224 59 56 115 106 4 0 1 1 2

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2007 Czech Republic IH18 6th 4 2
2008 Czech Republic WJC18 D1 11th 5 1 4 5 0
2008 Czech Republic IH18 5th 4 1
2009 Czech Republic WJC18 6th 6 2 1 3 4
2010 Czech Republic WJC 7th 6 1 1 2 0
2011 Czech Republic WJC 7th 5 0 1 1 4
2017 Czech Republic WC 7th 8 3 3 6 0
2018 Czech Republic OG 4th 6 0 4 4 0
2018 Czech Republic WC 7th 8 3 0 3 0
Senior totals 22 6 7 13 0

References

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  1. ^ a b Hanlon, Peter; Kelso, Sean; Ahrens, Janette; Buer, Greg (2011). 2011–12 Calgary Flames Media Guide. Calgary Flames Hockey Club. p. 121.
  2. ^ Flett, Cory; Watts, Jessie (eds.). 2009–10 WHL Guide. Western Hockey League. p. 219.
  3. ^ a b Hall, Vicki; Cruickshank, Scott (2011-10-03). "Horak wins job with Flames". National Post. Archived from the original on 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  4. ^ a b "Kreider, Bourque make final USA cut". New York Rangers Hockey Club. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  5. ^ "2010 Player Statistics by Team: Czech Republic" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
  6. ^ "2011 Player Statistics by Team: Czech Republic" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
  7. ^ "Rangers, Horak agree to contract terms". New York Rangers Hockey Club. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  8. ^ "Flames trade unsigned draft pick Erixon to Rangers". The Sports Network. 2011-06-01. Retrieved 2011-06-01.
  9. ^ Cruickshank, Scott (2011-10-01). "Calgary delighted with Horak". National Post. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  10. ^ "Matt Niskanen nets 2 points as Penguins drop Flames". ESPN. 2011-10-08. Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  11. ^ "Kiprusoff, Flames cool off Avs with 4-2 win". NHL. 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
  12. ^ "Oilers, Flames complete trade". CBC. November 8, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  13. ^ "Roman Horak in Vityaz". HC Vityaz Podolsk. 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  14. ^ "In the footsteps of my father" (in Czech). HC Sparta Praha. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
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