Marián Hossa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marián Hossa
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2020
Hossa in August 2013
Born	(1979-01-12) 12 January 1979 (age 46) Stará Ľubovňa, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Dukla Trenčín Ottawa Senators Mora IK Atlanta Thrashers Pittsburgh Penguins Detroit Red Wings Chicago Blackhawks
National team	Slovakia
NHL Draft	12th overall, 1997 Ottawa Senators
Playing career	1996–2017

Marián Hossa (born 12 January 1979) is a famous Slovak former professional ice hockey player. He was a right winger known for his skill and dedication. The Ottawa Senators picked Hossa in the first round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

He played for several teams during his long career, including the Senators, Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks. Hossa played in five NHL All-Star Games. He also reached the Stanley Cup Finals three times in a row with three different teams! He finally won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He won two more Stanley Cups with Chicago in 2013 and 2015.

Hossa's playing career ended early in 2017 because of a skin condition. His contract was later traded to the Arizona Coyotes in 2018. He officially retired from hockey in 2022. During his 19 years in the NHL, Hossa scored 525 goals and made 609 assists, totaling 1,134 points. He was the 44th player in NHL history to score 500 goals and the 80th to reach 1,000 points. In 2020, he was chosen to join the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Marián Hossa's Hockey Journey

Starting Young: Junior Hockey Years

As a young player, Marián Hossa played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He was part of a team from Bratislava, Slovakia.

Drafted by the Ottawa Senators

Hossa while a member of the Atlanta Thrashers in January 2006

The Ottawa Senators drafted Hossa in the first round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 12th player picked overall. Before joining the NHL, he played for HK Dukla Trenčín in Slovakia. He also played for the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in Canada.

In the 1997–98 season, Hossa scored 45 goals and 40 assists for 85 points in 53 games with the Winterhawks. He won the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as the WHL's best rookie. He also helped the Winterhawks win the Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL champions and the 1998 Memorial Cup. Even though he got injured in the Memorial Cup final, his team won, and he was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star team.

First NHL Seasons with Ottawa

Hossa joined the Senators for his first full NHL season in 1998–99. He scored 15 goals and 15 assists, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. The next year, in 1999–2000, he improved to 29 goals and 56 points.

In 2000–01, Hossa scored 32 goals and 75 points. This earned him his first trip to the National Hockey League All-Star Game. He continued to be a top player for the Senators. In 2002–03, he had a career-high 45 goals and 80 points. He helped the Senators reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost in a close seven-game series.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, when NHL games were paused, Hossa played in Europe. He played for Mora IK in Sweden and his old team, Dukla Trenčín, in Slovakia.

Playing for Atlanta and Pittsburgh

Hossa with the Pittsburgh Penguins in February 2008

When the NHL started playing again in 2005–06, Hossa was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers. In his first season with Atlanta, he scored 39 goals and 53 assists for 92 points.

In the 2006–07 season, Hossa made history for the Thrashers. He became the first player on the team to score 100 points in one season, finishing with 43 goals and 57 assists. He also played in his third All-Star Game. The Thrashers made the playoffs for the first time that season.

In 2007–08, Hossa was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He joined star players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Hossa helped the Penguins reach the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. He scored 12 goals and 14 assists in the playoffs, showing he was a big player in important games. However, the Penguins lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the final series.

Joining the Detroit Red Wings

Hossa with the Detroit Red Wings in May 2009

Even though the Penguins wanted to keep him, Hossa signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings in July 2008. He wanted to join the Red Wings because he felt they had a great chance to win the Stanley Cup. He scored his 300th career goal with the Red Wings.

In the 2008–09 season, Hossa led the Red Wings with 40 goals. This was his third time scoring 40 goals in a season. The Red Wings made it to the Stanley Cup Finals again, and Hossa faced his old team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was a big story in the media. Unfortunately for Hossa, the Red Wings lost to the Penguins in Game 7.

Winning with the Chicago Blackhawks

Hossa with the Chicago Blackhawks in November 2009

On July 1, 2009, Hossa signed a long contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. He missed the start of the 2009–10 season due to a shoulder injury. When he returned, he quickly made an impact, scoring two goals in his first game.

In the 2010 playoffs, Hossa helped the Blackhawks reach the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals. This was his third straight trip to the Finals with a third different team, which was a first in NHL history! Many people joked about the "Hossa Curse" because he kept going to the Finals but hadn't won yet. But on June 9, 2010, the Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, and Marián Hossa finally lifted his first Stanley Cup! The team captain, Jonathan Toews, handed the Cup to Hossa first.

More Stanley Cups and Milestones

Hossa continued to be a key player for the Blackhawks. In 2011–12, he was picked for the 2012 All-Star Game. He also reached his 900th NHL career point.

In the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Hossa helped the Blackhawks win the Presidents' Trophy as the best team in the regular season. He also played in his 1,000th career game. The Blackhawks went on to win the Stanley Cup again, defeating the Boston Bruins. This was Hossa's second Cup win.

Hossa with the Stanley Cup in June 2015

On October 30, 2014, Hossa scored his 1,000th career point with a goal against his former team, the Ottawa Senators. He was the 80th player in NHL history to reach this milestone. On June 15, 2015, Hossa and the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup for the third time in six seasons, beating the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In the 2016–17 season, Hossa scored his 500th career NHL goal. He became only the second Slovak-born player to achieve this.

Retirement from Hockey

Before the 2017–18 season, the Blackhawks announced that Hossa had a progressive skin condition. This condition meant he could no longer play professional hockey. In May 2018, Hossa confirmed he could not continue playing due to his health.

His contract was later traded to the Arizona Coyotes. On June 24, 2020, Marián Hossa was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is one of only a few players to be inducted while still technically under contract.

Hossa officially retired as a Blackhawk on April 7, 2022, by signing a special one-day contract. The Blackhawks honored him by retiring his jersey number, 81, on November 20, 2022. In August 2023, Hossa played in a final charity game in his hometown with many former teammates and friends.

International Hockey Career

Marián Hossa at the 2010 Winter Olympics, where Slovakia finished fourth

Marián Hossa proudly represented Slovakia in many international tournaments.

• He played in two World Junior Championships (1997 and 1998).
• He also played in seven World Championships.
• Hossa made his Olympic debut at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.
• In the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, he scored ten points in six games.
• At the 2010 Winter Olympics, Slovakia finished fourth, just missing a medal. Hossa scored important goals in that tournament.
• He also played for Slovakia in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• In 2016, Hossa played for Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Marián Hossa's Personal Life

Marián Hossa was born in Stará Ľubovňa, Czechoslovakia. His father, František Hossa, was also a professional hockey player and later coached the Slovak national team. Marián's younger brother, Marcel Hossa, was also a professional hockey player. Both brothers played together for Mora IK during the 2004–05 NHL lockout and on the Slovak national team.

Marián Hossa grew up in Trenčín, Slovakia, with other famous hockey players like Marián Gáborík and Zdeno Chára. They remained close friends throughout their NHL careers. In 2015, Trenčín honored the three players by naming streets after them.

In July 2010, Hossa married his longtime girlfriend. They have three daughters. Hossa also started a company called Hoss Corp in Trenčín, which works on real estate and community projects. In November 2022, his autobiography, Marián Hossa: My Journey from Trencín to the Hall of Fame, was released.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Achievements

WHL and CHL Awards

NHL Awards

See also

• Notable families in the NHL
• Slovaks in the NHL
• List of NHL players with 500 goals