Milan Hejduk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Milan Hejduk |
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Hejduk with the Colorado Avalanche in 2008
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| Born | February 14, 1976 Ústí nad Labem, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | HC Pardubice Colorado Avalanche |
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| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 87th overall, 1994 Quebec Nordiques |
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| Playing career | 1993–2013 | ||
Milan Hejduk (born February 14, 1976) is a Czech-American former professional ice hockey player. He was a forward, often called "the Duke". He played his entire 14-year career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Colorado Avalanche.
Hejduk holds the record for playing the most games as an Avalanche player, with 1,020 games. In 2003, he won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. This award is given to the NHL's top goal scorer. He is also a member of the Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Milan Hejduk's Hockey Journey
Starting His Career
Milan Hejduk was chosen by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 87th player picked overall. Before joining the NHL, he played for HC Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga. He was named Czech Rookie of the Year after scoring 11 goals in 32 games. He stayed with Pardubice until 1998, scoring many goals each season.
Winning the Stanley Cup and Top Scorer Award
Hejduk joined the Colorado Avalanche and quickly became a key player. In the 2000–01 season, he helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup. This is one of the biggest trophies in hockey.
In the 2002–03 season, Hejduk had an amazing year. He scored 50 goals for the Avalanche. This made him the NHL's top goal scorer, and he won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Milan returned to play for HC Pardubice. He helped them win the Czech Extraliga title.
Later Years and Leadership
On January 18, 2009, Hejduk scored his 300th career NHL goal. This happened in a game against the Calgary Flames. He played in all 82 games that year and was one of the Avalanche's top scorers.
In 2009, Hejduk signed a new contract with the Avalanche. He became an important leader for the younger players on the team. In January 2010, he had knee surgery. This meant he could not play in the 2010 Winter Olympics for the Czech Republic. He returned to play and helped the Avalanche reach the Stanley Cup playoffs.
In May 2011, Hejduk signed another contract. On November 14, he was named the third captain in Avalanche history. He played 81 games as captain, scoring 14 goals and 37 points. This ended his streak of 12 seasons with 20 or more goals.
Reaching Milestones and Retirement
In the 2012–13 season, Hejduk became the last player drafted by the Quebec Nordiques to still be playing in the NHL. On February 4, 2013, he played his 1,000th career NHL game. He was the first Avalanche player to reach this milestone with the team. On his 37th birthday, February 14, 2013, Hejduk scored a goal. This goal marked his 800th point in the NHL. He became only the third Czech-born player to reach 800 points.
Hejduk retired from hockey after the 2012–13 season. He finished his career ranked second in games played for the Quebec/Colorado franchise. He was also fourth in goals and points. He was the last player from the 2001 Stanley Cup-winning team to retire. On January 6, 2018, the Avalanche honored Milan Hejduk by retiring his number 23 jersey. This means no other Avalanche player will wear that number.
All-Star Games
Milan Hejduk was chosen to play in three NHL All-Star Games.
- In the 2000 All-Star Game, he played for the World team. They won 9–4.
- For the 2001 All-Star Game, he was chosen to start.
- In the 2009 All-Star Game, he was the only Avalanche player selected. He scored one goal and had two assists.
Life Outside Hockey
Milan Hejduk is married to Zlatuse. They have twin sons, Marek and David, who were born on January 3, 2004. In 2016, Hejduk became an American citizen. His son Marek started playing hockey for Harvard University in 2022. David is expected to join the team in 2023.
Awards and Achievements
| Award | Year | |
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| NHL | ||
| All-Rookie Team | 1998–99 | |
| All-Star Game | 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2008–09 | |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2000–01 | |
| Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy | 2002–03 | |
| Bud Light Plus/Minus Award | 2002–03 | |
| Second All-Star Team | 2002–03 | |
| Medal record | ||
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| Representing Czech Republic |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
| Gold | 1998 Nagano | |
| Bronze | 2006 Torino | |
| World Championships | ||
| Bronze | 1998 Basel | |
Images for kids
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Hejduk with the Avalanche in 2008
