Boris Valábik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boris Valábik |
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Valábik with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009
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| Born | February 14, 1986 Nitra, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) | ||
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg; 17 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Atlanta Thrashers | ||
| National team |  Slovakia |
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| NHL Draft | 10th overall, 2004 Atlanta Thrashers |
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| Playing career | 2006–2017 | ||
Boris Valábik, born on February 14, 1986, is a former professional ice hockey player from Slovakia. He played as a defenceman, which means his main job on the ice was to stop the other team from scoring. After his hockey career, Boris became a police officer. Now, he is a well-known TV personality, sports commentator, and writer. He was chosen by the Atlanta Thrashers as the tenth overall player in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, which is like a big lottery where teams pick new players. He played 80 games in the NHL for the Thrashers.
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Playing Hockey as a Junior
Starting with the Kitchener Rangers (2003–2006)
Before joining a professional team, Boris played for the HC Nitra U-20 team in his hometown of Nitra, Slovakia. In 2003, he was picked by the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The OHL is one of the top junior hockey leagues in Canada.
Boris played his first OHL game on September 19, 2003. He didn't score any points, but his team won 10–4. He got his first point, an assist, on October 17, 2003. His first goal came on November 7, 2003. In his first season (2003–04), he scored 3 goals and 16 points in 68 games. He also spent 118 minutes in the penalty box, showing his tough playing style. The Rangers made it to the playoffs that year. After the season, Boris was named to the OHL All-Rookie Team.
In the 2004–05 season, Boris focused more on defence. He had only 4 assists in 43 games. He also spent a lot of time in the penalty box, with 231 penalty minutes. The Rangers made it far in the playoffs but lost in the Western Conference finals.
Boris played one more season with Kitchener in 2005–06. He scored 1 goal and 10 points in 52 games. He also had 216 penalty minutes. The team reached the playoffs again, but lost in the first round.
Playing Hockey as a Professional
Time with the Atlanta Thrashers (2004–2011)
Boris was a top pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, chosen tenth overall by the Atlanta Thrashers. Even though he was drafted, he continued to play for the Kitchener Rangers for two more seasons. In March 2006, he signed his first professional contract with the Thrashers.
The Thrashers sent Boris to play for their minor league team, the Chicago Wolves, in the American Hockey League (AHL). The AHL is a league where players develop their skills before joining the NHL. He played his first AHL game on October 7, 2006, and got an assist. He scored his first AHL goal on October 13. In his first AHL season (2006–07), he played 50 games, scoring 2 goals and 9 points. The Wolves made the playoffs.
In the 2007–08 season, Boris continued with the Wolves. He played 58 games, scoring 1 goal and 8 points. On March 17, 2008, the Thrashers called him up to the NHL. Two days later, he played his first NHL game. He played seven games with Atlanta that season but didn't score any points. After that, he went back to the Wolves for their playoff run. The Wolves won the Calder Cup, which is the championship trophy for the AHL. Boris scored 3 goals and 4 points in 24 playoff games.
Boris started the 2008–09 season with the Wolves again. After 11 games, the Thrashers called him up to the NHL for the rest of the season. He got his first NHL point, an assist, on December 10, 2008. He played 50 games with Atlanta that season, getting 5 assists and 132 penalty minutes. He signed a new contract with the Thrashers in July 2009.
In the 2009–10 season, Boris started with the Wolves but got an ankle injury. He missed the first six weeks of the season. He played six games with Chicago before being called up to Atlanta again. He played 23 games with the Thrashers, getting 2 assists. His season ended early in February because of a knee injury.
In October 2010, the Thrashers sent Boris back to the Wolves. He played 49 games and had 9 assists. In February 2011, Boris was traded to the Boston Bruins along with another player.
Short Time with the Boston Bruins (2010–2011)
Boris finished the 2010–11 season playing for the Providence Bruins, the AHL team linked to the Boston Bruins. He played ten games and had two assists. After this season, his contract ended, and he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins (2011–2012)
On July 3, 2011, Boris signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He suffered another knee injury in October during a practice. He was then sent to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Penguins' AHL team. He only played three games that season and didn't score any points. After the season, he became a free agent again.
Playing in Europe (2012–2017)
In August 2012, Boris signed with HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga, a top league in the Czech Republic. He played 29 games, scoring 1 goal and 3 points. In January 2013, he asked to leave the team.
He then returned to North America and signed with the Portland Pirates in the AHL. He played 24 games, scoring 2 goals and 6 points, helping the team reach the playoffs.
Later, Boris played for other teams in Europe, including the Coventry Blaze in the UK and EHC Lustenau in Austria, before retiring from hockey in 2017.
Life After Hockey
After retiring from playing ice hockey, Boris Valábik started a new career as a television personality. In 2023, he took part in a dance competition show called Let's Dance in Slovakia. In September 2024, it was announced that Boris would be a sports news presenter for TV JOJ, a Slovak television channel. He has also appeared in many advertisements for different brands.
Awards and Achievements
- 2003–04 OHL First All-Rookie Team
- 2003–04 CHL All-Rookie Team
- 2003–04 CHL Top Prospects Game
- 2007–08 AHL Calder Cup (with the Chicago Wolves)
Images for kids
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Valábik with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009
