Lukáš Krajíček facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lukáš Krajíček |
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Krajíček with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009
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| Born | March 11, 1983 Prostějov, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 207 lb (94 kg; 14 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Florida Panthers Vancouver Canucks Tampa Bay Lightning Philadelphia Flyers HC Oceláři Třinec HC Dinamo Minsk |
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| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 24th overall, 2001 Florida Panthers |
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| Playing career | 2002–2020 | ||
Lukáš Krajíček (born March 11, 1983) is a former professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He played as a defenseman for many years. Lukáš played in the top leagues like the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Europe. He also played in the Czech Extraliga (ELH) in his home country.
Lukáš Krajíček's Hockey Journey
Lukáš Krajíček started his hockey career playing major junior hockey in Canada. He played for the Peterborough Petes in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). This is a league for young, talented players who hope to become professionals.
In 2001, when he was 18, Lukáš was chosen by the Florida Panthers in the NHL Draft. He was the 24th player picked overall, which is a great achievement! He continued to play for the Petes for two more seasons, getting better each year.
Lukáš then began his professional career. He spent time playing for both the Florida Panthers in the NHL and their minor league team, the San Antonio Rampage, in the American Hockey League (AHL). The AHL is often where players develop their skills before playing full-time in the NHL.
In 2006, Lukáš was part of a big trade. He moved to the Vancouver Canucks along with star goalie Roberto Luongo. He played two seasons with the Canucks. Later, he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008. He also played for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010.
After his time in the NHL, Lukáš moved to Europe. He signed with HC Dinamo Minsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in 2011. The KHL is a major league with teams from several countries, mostly in Europe and Asia. Lukáš quickly became one of the best defensemen on his team. He was even named the best defenseman in the KHL for the first week of the 2011–12 season! People liked his smart and reliable play in his own end of the rink.
Lukáš played many seasons in the KHL before returning to the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He played for HC Oceláři Třinec in the Czech Republic. He finished his long and successful career in 2020.
Lukáš Krajíček's International Achievements
Lukáš Krajíček also proudly represented his home country, the Czech Republic, in international hockey tournaments. He played for the Czech national team in several World Championships.
He helped his team win a silver medal at the 2006 World Championship in Riga. He also earned two bronze medals: one at the 2011 World Championship in Bratislava and another at the 2012 World Championship in Helsinki. These medals show his important contributions to Czech hockey on the world stage. He also played for the Czech Republic at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
| Medal record | ||
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| Representing Czech Republic |
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| World Championships | ||
| Silver | 2006 Riga | |
| Bronze | 2011 Bratislava | |
| Bronze | 2012 Helsinki | |
