Trivia Question

[Circa89]

I asked this question on the Flames message board but those guys are mere amateurs compared to Calgarypuck so I'll ask it again here.

I had an arguement with an infamous hockey person about this topic and he said I was wrong, however I still think I'm right. Please put this to bed for me.

We all know that Serguei Priakin was the first "official" Soviet to play in the NHL. He came to Calgary and was then followed with the KLM line to the NHL.

My question is who was the first "legal" Czechoslovakian to play in the NHL? Of course they were some (Makita etc.) who came over before they were invaded by the Soviets and became the CSSR. Then there were several who defected (the Stasny's etc.). But who was the first allowed to come over with the governments permission and do it legally as a communist country?

I thought it was Jiri Hrdina, am I wrong?

If Jiri is correct I think Fletcher should be inducted into the HHOF for arranging the first Russian and Czech player to be allowed entry into the NHL.

[KevanGuy]

Here is something I found pretty quick...doesnt really answer the question but I think it excludes Hrdina.

http://www.praguepost.com/P03/2004/Art/0819/news4.php

• Played with the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL in 1981, 1982 and 1983. Recorded 42 goals and 81 assists in 137 games in the NHL and helped the Canucks reach the Stanley Cup finals in 1982. Was the first Czech hockey player to make an appearance in the Stanley Cup finals.

EDIT: Nevermind, he defected.

[KevanGuy]

Jagr was apparently the first Czech player drafted without defecting.

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/P...x/8025/bio.htm

[Circa89]

Cool, Thanks for the imput.
Vancouver seems to have a thing for Czechs.
I know that they drafted Petr Nedved, but of course he defected while playing in the Mac's major tournament here in Calgary. I knew him and some of the Calgary Buffaloes that harboured him during his defection. I think thats why I'm interested in this question. I also understand that Vancouver drafted the first Czech players while still under communist rule. i.e. Jiri Bubla, Jiri Slegr's Dad, But Bubla defected to get to the NHL.

I thought Hlinka defected too. I don't have a definitive answer on that one yet though.

[Circa89]

It seems like a silly question now, but back then it was a huge deal. Defecting had some major consequences for the family you left behind. It was a major concession on the Government's part to just allow a player to leave their country and go play hockey in Canada. I believe the Flames were the first to get A czech and help build international hockey and in the process that was a huge hurdle in helping to tear down the Iron Curtain.

[Circa89]

I don't want to seem consumed by this question and keep bumping this up but it has been plauging me for a couple of years now. Anyone know where I might look to find the answer to this question? I wish it were as simple as 42.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Circa89

I don't want to seem consumed by this question and keep bumping this up but it has been plauging me for a couple of years now. Anyone know where I might look to find the answer to this question? I wish it were as simple as 42.

As my handle suggests I'm a big Hrdina fan but I know nothing nor have found anything that confirms he was the first legal Czech player to lace up the skates in the NHL - this leads to me to believe he wasn't the first.

[Circa89]

After more research I discovered that I am indeed wrong. I still don't have the answer but I now know that jiri Hrdina wasn't the first allowed to leave by the Communist Government

I got this tidbit from Hockeydraftcentral.com about Jiri Dudacek.

Stuck in Czechoslovakia: After drafting Dudacek in 1981, Buffalo was eager to bring him to North America. The Sabres, however, chose not to do what Quebec had done to get the Stastny brothers, because Buffalo ownership did not like the idea of arranging or being party to a defection from a Communist country. Instead of going the defection route, Buffalo general manager Scotty Bowman believed he could convince Czechoslovakian authorities to give up Dudacek in return for money. By 1986, Bowman claimed he had agreed to a deal with the Czechs and Dudacek's Kladno club team, but the Czechoslovakian sports minister vetoed the move because he said Dudacek was too young to leave the country, unlike some of the older Czech veterans who had been released to NHL teams during the early 1980s.
Personal: Son of a high-ranking Communist party member.