Martin Hanzal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Hanzal
Hanzal with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2014
Born	(1987-02-20) 20 February 1987 (age 38) Písek, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight	226 lb (103 kg; 16 st 2 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Arizona Coyotes HC Motor České Budějovice Minnesota Wild Dallas Stars
National team	Czech Republic
NHL Draft	17th overall, 2005 Phoenix Coyotes
Playing career	2007–2019

Martin Hanzal (born February 20, 1987) is a former professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He played as a centre (a forward position) and was chosen by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting in Youth Hockey

When he was young, Hanzal played in the 2001 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. This is a big event for young hockey players from all over the world.

The Phoenix Coyotes picked Hanzal in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 17th player chosen overall. After that, he moved to North America to play for the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He scored 19 points in 19 games with Omaha.

Hanzal then played major junior hockey for the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was a top scorer for the Rebels, getting 85 points in 60 games during the 2006–07 season.

Making it to the NHL

Hanzal started his professional career with the Coyotes in the 2007–08 season. He scored 35 points that season, which was sixth best on his team. He was also one of the top rookies in the entire NHL for points and assists.

On December 4, 2008, Hanzal scored his first career hat-trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs. A hat-trick means scoring three goals in one game. He did it in just over 20 minutes, which was the fastest hat-trick in Coyotes history!

In 2011, Hanzal was named an alternate captain for the Coyotes. This means he was one of the team leaders.

Big Playoff Moments

On April 12, 2012, Hanzal scored a very important goal in the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was the game-winning goal in overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks. This gave the Coyotes a big 3–2 victory in the first game of the series.

During the 2014–15 season, Hanzal scored his second career hat-trick against the Vancouver Canucks. Two of his goals were scored only nine seconds apart! This was a "natural hat-trick," meaning he scored all three goals without the other team scoring in between.

Later that season, Hanzal had to have back surgery. This meant he couldn't play for the rest of the season.

Moving to Other Teams

On February 27, 2017, Hanzal was traded to the Minnesota Wild. He had played nine seasons with the Coyotes. He joined the Wild during the 2016–17 season.

Hanzal training with the Coyotes

After his time with the Wild, Hanzal signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars on July 1, 2017. In his first season with the Stars, he had some injuries. He played 38 games and scored 10 points. In March 2018, he had to have back surgery again, which ended his season.

Retirement from the NHL

After his contract with the Stars ended, Hanzal returned to the Czech Republic. On October 26, 2020, he announced that he was retiring from the NHL after playing for 12 seasons.

Playing for His Country

Martin Hanzal also proudly represented the Czech Republic in international tournaments.

He played in the IIHF World U20 Championship in 2006 and 2007. These tournaments are for players under 20 years old.

Hanzal played his first senior game for the Czech national team at the 2008 World Championships. He played in four major tournaments for his country during his career.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honours