Andrej Šustr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrej Šustr
Šustr with Kölner Haie in November 2023
Born	(1990-11-29) 29 November 1990 (age 34) Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 8 in (203 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
Liiga team Former teams	Tappara Tampa Bay Lightning Anaheim Ducks Kunlun Red Star Kölner Haie HC Dynamo Pardubice
National team	Czech Republic
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2013–present

Andrej Šustr was born on November 29, 1990. He is a professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He plays as a defenceman, which means he helps protect his team's goal. Andrej currently plays for Tappara in the Finnish Liiga. Before this, he played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Anaheim Ducks. Andrej was not chosen in the NHL draft, but he still made his NHL debut in 2013. This was after he played three seasons of college ice hockey for the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Playing Career: Andrej's Hockey Journey

Starting Out: Junior and College Hockey

Šustr playing college hockey with the Omaha Mavericks in 2010.

Andrej Šustr grew up in Plzeň, a city in the Czech Republic. When he was 17, he moved to the United States to play junior hockey. This is a level of hockey for young players before they turn professional. He played for the Kenai River Brown Bears for one year. Then, he joined the Youngstown Phantoms in another junior league.

In 2010, the University of Nebraska Omaha asked Andrej to join their college team. He played for the Mavericks for three seasons. During this time, he played in 111 games. He scored 15 goals and made 51 points for his team.

Becoming a Professional Hockey Player

Andrej was not picked in the NHL Entry Draft, but he still got a chance to play in the NHL. He attended training camps with teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers. On March 21, 2013, he signed a professional contract with the Lightning.

First Steps in the NHL and AHL

Andrej played his first NHL game on March 29, 2013. He then joined the Syracuse Crunch, which is the Lightning's minor league team. This team plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). He played eight games with the Crunch. The team even reached the championship final that year.

On April 5, 2014, Andrej scored his very first NHL goal. The Lightning re-signed him to a new contract in July 2014. He also played in his first Stanley Cup playoffs games that year.

Key Moments with the Tampa Bay Lightning

On February 16, 2015, Andrej played his 100th NHL game. This was a big milestone for him. He also scored his first playoff goal on April 18, 2015. This helped the Lightning win a game against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Lightning signed Andrej for two more years in June 2015. He played in 72 games during the 2014-15 season. He helped his team by blocking many shots. He also set a team record for his plus/minus rating in a playoff series. This rating shows how many goals his team scores compared to how many they let in while he is on the ice.

Šustr playing with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2013.

On October 25, 2016, Andrej played his 200th NHL game. The Lightning extended his contract again in June 2017.

Moving to Other Teams

After six seasons with the Lightning, Andrej became a free agent. This means he could sign with any team. On July 5, 2018, he signed a contract with the Anaheim Ducks. He played only a few games with the Ducks. Most of his time was spent with their AHL team, the San Diego Gulls.

In 2019, Andrej decided to play in a different league. He signed with Kunlun Red Star, a team in China that plays in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He played there for two seasons.

Andrej returned to the Lightning in July 2021. He played 15 games for them before being sent back to the Syracuse Crunch. In March 2022, he was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks again. This was his second time playing for the Ducks.

In July 2022, Andrej joined the Minnesota Wild. He played mostly for their AHL team, the Iowa Wild. In March 2023, he was traded back to the Anaheim Ducks for a third time.

After the season, Andrej was traded to the San Jose Sharks. However, he did not sign a contract with them. He then moved to Germany to play for Kölner Haie in the DEL league.

In July 2024, Andrej signed with HC Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga. After a short time there, he moved to Finland to play for Tappara.

International Play: Representing His Country

Andrej has also played for his home country, the Czech Republic.

• In 2010, he played in the IIHF World U20 Championship for players under 20.
• In 2016, he was chosen to play in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. This is a big tournament where the best hockey players from different countries compete.
• In 2021, he played in the Ice Hockey World Championships.

Awards and Honors

Andrej has received one special award during his college career: