Michal Rozsíval facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michal Rozsíval |
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Rozsíval with the Chicago Blackhawks in January 2013
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| Born | 3 September 1978 Vlašim, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Pittsburgh Penguins Oceláři Třinec Pardubice New York Rangers Phoenix Coyotes Chicago Blackhawks |
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| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 105th overall, 1996 Pittsburgh Penguins |
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| Playing career | 1995–2017 | ||
Michal Rozsíval (born 3 September 1978) is a former professional ice hockey defenceman from the Czech Republic. He played for many years in the National Hockey League (NHL). Michal is best known for winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was a strong and reliable player on the ice.
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Michal Rozsíval's Hockey Journey
Starting with the Pittsburgh Penguins
Michal Rozsíval began his NHL journey when the Pittsburgh Penguins picked him in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 105th player chosen overall. To get ready for playing in North America, he first played junior hockey in Canada. He joined the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Before playing for the Penguins, he also spent some time with the Syracuse Crunch in the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his first NHL appearance in the 1999–2000 season.
Playing for the New York Rangers
After a big break in hockey (the 2004–05 NHL lockout), Rozsíval joined the New York Rangers as a free agent. He made a memorable play on 29 April 2007. He scored a goal in double overtime, ending the Rangers' longest home playoff game since 1971. During the 2007–08 season, he was a top defenceman for scoring goals while his team was playing with fewer players (shorthanded goals). In 2009, he changed his jersey number to 33. This was done because the number 3, worn by former Rangers player Harry Howell, was retired.
Time with the Phoenix Coyotes
On 10 January 2011, Michal Rozsíval was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes. He played with them until 2012. During the 2012 playoffs, he was injured in a game against the Los Angeles Kings. This injury happened just before the Kings scored the winning goal in overtime.
Winning with the Chicago Blackhawks
Michal Rozsíval joined the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012. This was a very successful time in his career. The Blackhawks won the Presidents' Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the 2012–13 season. They beat the Boston Bruins in six games in the finals. In the first game of that series, Michal helped set up the winning goal in triple overtime. He signed a new contract to stay with the Blackhawks in 2013.
During the 2014–15 season, Michal played in 65 games. He got one goal and twelve assists. He also played in ten games during the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, he got a serious ankle injury during a playoff series against the Minnesota Wild. This injury needed surgery and a long time to heal. Even though he was injured, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup that year. This meant Michal's name was engraved on the cup for a second time!
After his injury, Michal signed another one-year contract with the Blackhawks in 2015. He returned to play in November 2015. In March 2016, he was nominated for the NHL's Masterton Trophy. This award goes to a player who shows great determination and dedication to hockey.
Michal signed another contract extension with the Blackhawks at the end of the 2015–16 season. His contract was extended again through the 2017–18 season. However, in February 2017, he suffered a facial injury during a game. This injury needed surgery and caused him to miss the rest of the 2016–17 season and the 2017 playoffs. He was later diagnosed with post-concussion symptoms. He was placed on the Blackhawks' long-term disabled list before the 2017–18 season and did not play another NHL game.
International Play and Awards
Michal Rozsíval also represented his home country, the Czech Republic, in international hockey tournaments.
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| Medal record | ||
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| Representing Czech Republic |
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| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2010 Cologne | |
He won a gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Championship with the Czech Republic team. He also played for his country in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Hockey Awards and Honours
Michal Rozsíval received several awards during his career:
- WHL East First All-Star Team: 1998
- Bill Hunter Trophy: 1998 (Award for the top defenceman in the WHL)
- CHL Second All-Star Team: 1998
- NHL Plus/Minus Award: 2006 (Shared winner for having the best plus/minus rating in the NHL)
- Stanley Cup (Chicago Blackhawks): 2013, 2015
Michal's Family Life
Michal Rozsíval is married to Jana, and they have two sons. Their son Daniel plays hockey for the Chicago Mission u16 team and is currently playing for the Yellojackets of U of Wisconsin-Superior. Their other son is named Dominick.
