| International Czechoslovakia's top junior goalie in the late 1980s ... Won three medals in junior international competitions: European gold in 1988 and World bronze in 1989 and 1990 ... All-Star at the 1988 European Junior Championships ... Named to the Czech National Team roster for the 1993 World Championships, but didn't see any action ... Back-up to Petr Briza at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics and the 1994 World Championships ... Won the starting job at the 1995 World Championships, earning All-Star honors with a goals-against average of 1.50 ... Played a key role as the Czechs won the 1996 World Championships ... Played every minute in eight games, posting a goals-against average of 1.88 ... Named Best Goaltender and to the All-Star Team at the tournament ... Played at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.
Career Minnesota's sixth choice, 113th overall, in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft ... Became a goalie because he was last in line at a youth hockey practice and only goaltending equipment was left ... At 20 years old became a starter with his club, HC Ceske Budejovice ... He was the only goalie in the Czech League who catches right ... In 1991-92 HC Ceske Budejovice was relegated to the second division ... Stayed with his club, despite invitations from other teams, and helped the team win promotion back to the top division ... Won Golden Stick Award in 1993-94 as the best player of the Czech League ... Spent the 1995-96 season in the German Hockey League with Nurnberg ... Played in all but two games ... Signed with the NHL's Dallas Stars in the summer of 1996. |
