Patrik Štefan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Patrik Štefan |
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| Born | 16 September 1980 Příbram, Czechoslovakia |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Sparta Praha Long Beach Ice Dogs Atlanta Thrashers Chicago Wolves Ilves Dallas Stars SC Bern |
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| National team |  Czech Republic |
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| NHL Draft | 1st overall, 1999 Atlanta Thrashers |
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| Playing career | 1996–2007 | ||
Patrik Štefan (born September 16, 1980) is a former professional ice hockey player from the Czech Republic. He was picked as the very first player in the 1999 NHL entry draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. His career faced many challenges because of injuries.
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Patrik Štefan's Hockey Journey
Starting Out in Hockey
Before joining the NHL, Patrik Štefan played for teams in Europe and North America. He played for HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Republic. He also played for the Long Beach Ice Dogs in the IHL.
Time with the Atlanta Thrashers
Štefan played for six seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers. During his time there, he scored 177 points. A "point" in hockey is when a player scores a goal or helps another player score a goal.
Playing During the NHL Lockout
In the 2004–05 season, the NHL had a "lockout." This meant players could not play in the NHL. During this time, Štefan played for a team called Ilves Tampere in Finland. He played 37 games and earned 41 points, including 28 assists. An "assist" is when a player helps set up a goal.
Moving to the Dallas Stars
On June 24, 2006, Štefan was traded to the Dallas Stars. This means he was moved to a new team in exchange for other players or draft picks. He played for the Stars for a short time.
Retirement from Hockey
After his contract with the Stars ended in 2007, Štefan signed with a team in Switzerland, SC Bern. However, he only played three games for them. He decided to retire from hockey in October 2007. This was mainly because of a serious hip injury. He had many injuries throughout his career.
The Famous Empty Net Blunder
What Happened in the Game
Patrik Štefan is remembered for a funny moment during a game on January 4, 2007. His team, the Dallas Stars, was playing against the Edmonton Oilers. Dallas was ahead by one goal with only seconds left in the game.
The Missed Shot
Štefan got the puck and was skating towards an empty net. An empty net means the other team's goalie has left the net to try and help their team score. Instead of shooting right away, Štefan tried a fancy shot. The puck hit a bad spot on the ice and bounced over his stick. He missed the goal and fell down!
The Oilers Score
To make things worse, he accidentally sent the puck towards the Oilers' side of the ice. This allowed an Oilers player, Aleš Hemský, to score a goal with only two seconds left! The game was tied 5–5. Luckily for Štefan, the Dallas Stars still won the game in a shootout.
Life After Professional Hockey
Current Activities
Today, Patrik Štefan works as a player agent in the Detroit area. A player agent helps hockey players with their contracts and careers. He also coaches young hockey players. He coaches a 15-and-under team called Little Caesars Hockey.
Family in Hockey
Patrik Štefan's son, James, is also a hockey player. James is a prospect for the Edmonton Oilers. This means he is a young player who might play for the team in the future.
Honours and Achievements
- Silver medal at 2006 IIHF World Championship
See also
- List of NHL first overall draft choices
