Ivan Droppa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ivan Droppa |
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| Born | 1 February 1972 Liptovsky Mikulas, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 216 lb (98 kg; 15 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Ours de Villard-de-Lans MsHK Žilina HC Košice HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš HC Chemopetrol HC Slavia Praha Nürnberg Ice Tigers DEG Metro Stars Kassel Huskies Chicago Blackhawks |
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| National team |  Slovakia |
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| NHL Draft | 37th overall, 1990 Chicago Blackhawks |
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| Playing career | 1990–2014 | ||
Ivan Droppa, born on February 1, 1972, is a retired professional ice hockey player from Slovakia. He was a skilled defenceman, which is a player who helps protect his team's goal. Ivan played in the famous National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks. He also proudly represented his home country, Slovakia, in big international tournaments like the 1998 Winter Olympics.
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Ivan Droppa's Hockey Journey
Ivan Droppa started his professional hockey career in 1990. He was chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Draft that year. He was the 37th player picked overall, which is a great achievement!
Playing in North America
After being drafted, Ivan played most of his time in North America for the Indianapolis Ice. This team was part of the IHL, which was a major minor league at the time. He played there from 1992 to 1997.
During this time, Ivan also got to play in the top league, the NHL. He played 19 games for the Chicago Blackhawks between 1993 and 1996. Even though it was a short time, playing in the NHL is a dream for many hockey players.
European Adventures
After his time in North America, Ivan Droppa moved to Europe. He played for many different teams in several countries. He spent a lot of his career in his home country, Slovakia, playing for teams like HC Košice and MsHK Žilina.
He also played in Germany's top league, the DEL, for teams such as the Nürnberg Ice Tigers and DEG Metro Stars. Later in his career, he played in the Czech Republic and even France. Ivan continued to play hockey until 2014, showing his long-lasting passion for the sport.
Representing Slovakia
Ivan Droppa was a key player for the Slovakia national team. He played in many important international tournaments.
Junior Years
Before playing for the senior team, Ivan represented Czechoslovakia (before Slovakia became an independent country) in junior tournaments. He played in the European Junior Championships in 1990. He also played in the World Junior Championships in both 1991 and 1992.
Senior International Play
As a senior player, Ivan Droppa proudly wore the Slovakian jersey. He played in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, a big tournament where the best hockey nations compete.
He also played in several World Championships for Slovakia, from 1997 to 2001. One of his biggest achievements was representing Slovakia at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Playing in the Olympics is a huge honor for any athlete!
