David Pastrňák facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Pastrňák |
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Pastrňák with the Boston Bruins in September 2019
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| Born | 25 May 1996 Havířov, Czech Republic |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 196 lb (89 kg; 14 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team | Boston Bruins | ||
| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 25th overall, 2014 Boston Bruins |
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| Playing career | 2014–present | ||
David Pastrňák (born May 25, 1996) is a professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He plays as a right winger and is an alternate captain for the Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League (NHL). Fans often call him "Pasta." The Bruins chose him in the first round of the 2014 NHL entry draft, and he started playing in the NHL that same year. He has also played for the Czech Republic national team in many big tournaments, including four World Championships.
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Early Life and Hockey Start
David Pastrňák was born in Havířov, Czech Republic. His dad, Milan, was a professional hockey player and coach, which got David interested in the sport. David started skating when he was just three years old.
When he was 13, David got an agent, which helped pay for his hockey gear. This made things easier for his family. At 15, he moved to Třinec and lived alone in a hotel. This was a test to see if he could move to Sweden the next year. In the 2011–12 season, David was the top scorer in the Czech under-18 league.
In 2012, David moved to Sweden to play for Södertälje SK's junior team. There, he learned English and Swedish and started watching NHL games. In May 2013, just before his 17th birthday, his father passed away. David trained even harder after this sad event.
Playing Career Highlights
Playing in Sweden
For the 2013–14 season, David joined Södertälje SK's main team in Sweden's second-highest league. He was the team's top scorer, even though he missed some games due to a head injury.
Joining the Boston Bruins (2014–Present)
Starting in the NHL (2014–2016)
The Boston Bruins picked David 25th overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft. He signed a contract and first played for the Providence Bruins, their minor league team. David made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins on November 24, 2014.
He scored his first two NHL goals on January 10, 2015. On March 29, he became the youngest Bruins player to score a game-winning goal in overtime. By the end of his first season, he was one of only two players from his draft class to play in over 40 NHL games.
On February 24, 2016, David became the youngest Bruins player to score a penalty shot goal. His exciting play made him very popular, and fans in Boston gave him the nickname "Pasta."
Becoming a Star (2016–2023)
The 2016–17 NHL season was a huge year for David. He scored 34 goals and 36 assists, leading the Bruins in points. He played on the top line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron, which fans called the "Perfection Line."
In September 2017, the Bruins signed David to a big six-year contract. On March 13, 2018, he scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game). In the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, he had another hat-trick and three assists in one game, becoming the youngest player in NHL history to get six points in a playoff game.
David played in his first NHL Winter Classic in 2019 and was chosen for his first National Hockey League All-Star Game. He won the Accuracy Shooting challenge. He also became the Bruins' all-time leader for most goals scored before turning 23. In the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, David and the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Finals but lost in a close seven-game series.
On October 14, 2019, David scored all four of the Bruins' goals in a game, a rare feat. In the 2019–20 NHL season, he tied for the most goals in the NHL with 48, winning the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. He was the first Bruins player to win this award.
During the shorter 2020–21 NHL season, David scored his 200th career regular-season goal. In the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored another hat-trick.
In the amazing 2022–23 NHL season, David signed a new eight-year contract. He finished the season with a career-high 61 goals and 113 points. He was second in the league for goals and was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award and the Hart Memorial Trophy, which are awards for the league's best and most valuable player.
Continued Success (2023–Present)
David continued his strong play in the 2023–24 NHL season. On January 20, 2024, he scored his 30th goal of the season, marking his seventh time reaching 30 goals, tying a Bruins record. He was also named to his second straight 2024 National Hockey League All-Star Game. In the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, David scored the series-winning goal in overtime of Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In the 2024–25 NHL season, David had another fantastic year, scoring over 40 goals and 100 points for the third season in a row. He became the first Czech-born player and only the third Bruins player (after Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito) to do this. He also had a streak where he scored or assisted on 13 consecutive Bruins goals, which is one of the longest streaks in NHL history. David finished the season with 43 goals and 63 assists for 106 points, leading the Bruins in all scoring categories.
International Play
.jpg) Pastrňák with the 2024 World Championship trophy |
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| Medal record | ||
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| Men's ice hockey | ||
| Representing Czech Republic |
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| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2024 Czech Republic | |
| Bronze | 2022 Finland | |
| World U18 Championships | ||
| Silver | 2014 Finland | |
| Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament | ||
| Bronze | 2013 Slovakia/Czech Republic | |
David has played for the Czech Republic's national teams at all levels. He won a bronze medal at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and a silver medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships.
He joined the Czech Republic senior team for the first time at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. He also played in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. In 2022, he helped the Czech Republic win a bronze medal at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.
In 2024, David played at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a gold medal with the Czech Republic. He scored the winning goal in the final game and was named player of the game.
He also played in the 2025 IIHF World Championship, where he led the tournament in scoring. He was named the best forward and made the tournament all-star team. David was also chosen to represent the Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be his first time at the Olympics.
Personal Life
David Pastrňák is married to Rebecca Rohlsson. They have a daughter named Freya Ivy Pastrňák, who was born in June 2023. Sadly, their first son, Viggo, passed away shortly after his birth in 2021. David and Rebecca got married in Croatia in August 2024.
Career Achievements and Awards
David Pastrňák has achieved many great things in his hockey career. He has won the Golden Hockey Stick award in the Czech Republic multiple times, including for eight years in a row from 2017 to 2025. He was also named the Sportsperson of the Year in 2020.
In the NHL, David has been selected for the NHL All-Star Game four times (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024). He won the Accuracy Shooting challenge in 2019 and was named the NHL All-Star Game MVP in 2020. He won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 2020 for scoring the most goals in the league. He has also been named to the NHL First All-Star Team twice and the NHL Second All-Star Team twice.
For the Boston Bruins, David has won several team awards, including the Seventh Player Award and the Eddie Shore Award. He is also recognized as one of the Top 100 Best Bruins Players of all Time and was named to the Boston Bruins All-Centennial Team in 2024.
David holds several impressive records:
- He is the youngest player in NHL history to get six points in a single playoff game.
- He is the first and only Czech-born player in NHL history to have three seasons in a row with 100 points or more.
- He is the youngest Bruins player to score an overtime game-winning goal.
- He is the youngest Bruins player to score a penalty shot goal.
- He holds the record for most goals in Bruins history before the age of 23.
- He is the first and only player in Bruins history to score all four of his team's goals in a game.
- He holds the Bruins record for the most consecutive goals he was involved in (scoring or assisting) with 13.
- He is the youngest player in history to win the Golden Stick Award in the Czech Republic.
- He has the most consecutive Golden Hockey Stick Award wins with five.
