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 a very talented player who was chosen as the very first player in the 1999 NHL entry draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. This means he was considered the best young player available that year!
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Patrik Štefan's Hockey Journey
Before joining the NHL, Patrik played for teams like Sparta Praha in the Czech Republic. He also played for the Long Beach Ice Dogs in a league called the IHL.
Patrik played six seasons for the Atlanta Thrashers. During this time, he scored 177 points, which is a combination of goals and assists.
Playing During the NHL Lockout
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, NHL players could not play in the league. Patrik went to play for Ilves Tampere in Finland's top league, the SM-liiga. He did very well, getting 41 points in 37 games. In the playoffs, he added seven more points.
On June 24, 2006, Patrik was traded to the Dallas Stars. He joined the Stars along with another player, Jaroslav Modrý.
After his contract with the Stars ended in 2007, Patrik signed with SC Bern in Switzerland. However, he only played three games there before he had to retire in October 2007. This was mainly because of a serious hip injury. He had several injuries throughout his career.
The Famous Empty Net Blunder
Patrik is also remembered for a funny moment during a game on January 4, 2007. His team, the Dallas Stars, was ahead by one goal against the Edmonton Oilers. There were only seconds left in the game. Patrik got the puck and was skating towards an empty net. This means the other team's goalie had left the net to try and help his team score.
Instead of shooting right away, Patrik tried a fancy shot. But the puck hit a bad spot on the ice and bounced over his stick! He missed the goal, tripped, and fell. To make things worse, he accidentally cleared the puck towards the Oilers' end. This led to an Oilers player, Aleš Hemský, scoring a goal with only two seconds left! The game was tied 5-5. Luckily for Patrik, the Dallas Stars still won the game in a shootout.
Life After Hockey
After retiring from playing, Patrik Štefan stayed involved in hockey. He now works as a player agent in the Detroit area. This means he helps other hockey players with their careers. He also coaches young players with the 15U Little Caesars Hockey team.
Patrik's son, James, is also a promising young hockey player. He is a prospect for the Edmonton Oilers.
Achievements
- Silver medal at the 2006 IIHF World Championship
See also
- List of NHL first overall draft choices
