Robert Holík (born January 1, 1971) is a Czech-American former professional ice hockey center who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Holík is the son of Jaroslav Holík, a Czechoslovak ice hockey world champion in 1972 and Czech national team head coach who led the under-20 team to world titles in 2000 and 2001. Holík is the current head coach of the Israel men's national ice hockey team.
| Bobby Holík | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Holík with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005 | |||
| Born | January 1, 1971 Jihlava, Czechoslovakia | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 240 lb (109 kg; 17 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Center | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Dukla Jihlava Hartford Whalers New Jersey Devils New York Rangers Atlanta Thrashers | ||
| National team |  Czechoslovakia and Czech Republic | ||
| NHL draft | 10th overall, 1989 Hartford Whalers | ||
| Playing career | 1987–2009 | ||
Playing career edit
Holík began his NHL career playing for the Hartford Whalers in 1990 after being selected tenth overall by them in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. After two seasons with the Whalers, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils where he played for ten seasons, featuring as a member of the "Crash Line" alongside Mike Peluso and Randy McKay, and winning two Stanley Cup championships, in 1995 and 2000.[1] Prior to the 2002–03 season, as a free agent, Holík signed a five-year, $45 million contract with the New York Rangers.[2]
In 2005, following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Rangers bought out the remainder of Holík's contract, after which he signed with the Atlanta Thrashers.[3] On October 2, 2007, he was named captain of the Thrashers for the 2007–08 season.
On July 1, 2008, as a free agent, Holík signed a one-year contract with the New Jersey Devils for the 2008–09 season, returning to the team he played ten seasons with.[4]
On May 23, 2009, following the conclusion of the 2008–09 season, Holík announced his retirement from the NHL. He was 38 when he retired and cited a focus to be with his family.[5][6] Since 2017, Holík has run a hockey school in Israel and coached their U-18 and U-20 programs.[7]
Personal life edit
Holík became an American citizen in a ceremony in Newark, New Jersey, on November 4, 1996. He is married with a daughter, Hannah Marie Holík, born in 1997, and splits his time between Wyoming and Florida.[8]
Holík's nephew, David Musil, was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers.
Holík is an avid rifle, pistol and shotgun enthusiast. After being introduced to firearms manufacturer CZ-USA's president Alice Poluchová[9] by shooting instructor Shepard Humphries,[10] Holík became CZ-USA's celebrity representative.[11][12][13]
Awards and achievements edit
- Stanley Cup champion – 1994–95, 1999–2000
- NHL All-Star – 1998, 1999
Career statistics edit
Regular season and playoffs edit
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1987–88 | ASD Dukla Jihlava | CSSR | 31 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | ASD Dukla Jihlava | CSSR | 24 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 32 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 8 | — | ||
| 1989–90 | ASD Dukla Jihlava | CSSR | 42 | 15 | 26 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 78 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 113 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | ||
| 1991–92 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 76 | 21 | 24 | 45 | 44 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 1992–93 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 61 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 76 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 1992–93 | Utica Devils | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 70 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 72 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1994–95 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 48 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 22 | ||
| 1995–96 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 63 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 23 | 39 | 62 | 54 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | ||
| 1997–98 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 29 | 36 | 65 | 100 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 1998–99 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 78 | 27 | 37 | 64 | 119 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 1999–2000 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 79 | 23 | 23 | 46 | 106 | 23 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 14 | ||
| 2000–01 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 80 | 15 | 35 | 50 | 97 | 25 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 37 | ||
| 2001–02 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 81 | 25 | 29 | 54 | 97 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | New York Rangers | NHL | 64 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | New York Rangers | NHL | 82 | 25 | 31 | 56 | 96 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 64 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 82 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 86 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | Atlanta Thrashers | NHL | 82 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 62 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 66 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| CSSR totals | 97 | 29 | 47 | 76 | 48 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 8 | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 1,314 | 326 | 421 | 747 | 1,421 | 141 | 20 | 39 | 59 | 120 | ||||
International edit
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Czechoslovakia | EJC | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2 | |
| 1989 | Czechoslovakia | WJC | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | |
| 1989 | Czechoslovakia | EJC | 6 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 2 | |
| 1990 | Czechoslovakia | WJC | 7 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 12 | |
| 1990 | Czechoslovakia | WC | 10 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1991 | Czechoslovakia | WC | 10 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 18 | |
| 1996 | Czech Republic | WCH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Junior totals | 26 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 18 | |||
| Senior totals | 23 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 18 | |||
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Yannis, Alex (29 April 1999). "HOCKEY; the Devils' Crash Line is Back in Business with a Bit of Help from Brylin". The New York Times.
- ^ "USATODAY.com - Rangers sign Bobby Holik from rival Devils".
- ^ "Next step? Thrashers sign Bobby Holik to $12.75 million deal".
- ^ Everson, Mark (2008-07-01). "Devils ink Holík, Rolston". nypost.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- ^ Everson, Mark (2009-05-23). "Holík set to retire, focus on family". nypost.com. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- ^ "Bobby Holik leaves NHL on his own terms". sportingnews.com. 2009-05-23. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- ^ Brooks, Larry (January 13, 2024). "NHL should not stay silent on IIHF decision to ban Israel over safety concerns". New York Post. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ Chere, Rich (May 23, 2009). "New Jersey Devils center Bobby Holik decides to retire after 18 seasons". The Star-Ledger.
- ^ "CZ-USA president Alice Poluchova".
- ^ "Shepard Humphries".
- ^ "Gun ranges in the great state of Wyoming". 11 August 2012.
- ^ http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7893[permanent dead link]
- ^ "CZ-USA -> Bobby Holik". Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
External links edit
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database