Pavol Demitra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pavol Demitra
Demitra with the Los Angeles Kings in 2005
Born	(1974-11-29)29 November 1974 Dubnica nad Váhom, Czechoslovakia
Died	7 September 2011(2011-09-07) (aged 36) Yaroslavl, Russia
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Left
Played for	HC Dukla Trenčín Ottawa Senators St. Louis Blues Los Angeles Kings Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
National team	Slovakia
NHL Draft	227th overall, 1993 Ottawa Senators
Playing career	1992–2011
Medal record Men's ice hockey Representing  Slovakia World Championships Bronze 2003 Finland Representing  Czechoslovakia World Junior Championships Bronze 1993 Sweden

Pavol Demitra (born 29 November 1974 – died 7 September 2011) was a professional Slovak ice hockey player. He played for 19 seasons in different leagues, including the National Hockey League (NHL) in North America and the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Europe. Pavol was known as a very skilled player who scored lots of points and was a top forward throughout his career.

He was picked by the Ottawa Senators in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Pavol had his best seasons with the St. Louis Blues, where he was chosen for three NHL All-Star Games and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2000 for being a great player and sportsman. He often scored more than 30 goals in a season. Later, he played for the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, and Vancouver Canucks. In 2010, he joined Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL. Sadly, he died in a plane crash with most of his team in 2011.

Pavol also played for his country, Slovakia, in many international tournaments. He won a bronze medal at the 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and another bronze at the 2003 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He played in three Winter Olympics, leading all players in points at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Who Was Pavol Demitra?

Pavol Demitra was a talented ice hockey player from Slovakia. He was known for his amazing skills on the ice, especially his ability to score goals and set up plays for his teammates. He played for many different teams during his career and was a beloved figure in the hockey world.

Early Life and Hockey Start

When he was younger, Pavol Demitra actually played soccer, just like his dad. He only started focusing on hockey when he was about 15 years old. He began playing at a higher level with a team called ZŤS Dubnica in Slovakia's second-best league.

In the 1992–93 season, Pavol joined HC Dukla Trenčín, a top team in Czechoslovakia. He scored 11 goals and 28 points in 46 games. After this season, the Ottawa Senators picked him in the 1993 NHL Draft. He was chosen 227th overall, which was very late in the draft, making him one of the best "steals" in NHL history!

Playing in the NHL: A Star on Ice

Pavol Demitra spent many years playing in the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the top hockey league in the world. He became a well-known player because of his scoring and playmaking abilities.

Starting with the Ottawa Senators

Pavol started his NHL career with the Ottawa Senators in the 1993–94 season. In his very first NHL game, he scored his first goal! He played a few games with Ottawa but spent most of his early time with their minor league team, the Prince Edward Island Senators. He scored many points there, showing he was ready for the NHL. By the 1995–96 season, he was playing for Ottawa more regularly.

In 1996, Pavol was traded from the Senators to the St. Louis Blues. This trade was a big moment in his career.

Becoming a Star with the St. Louis Blues

Joining the St. Louis Blues was a turning point for Pavol. He quickly became a key player for the team. In the 1997–98 season, he played in 61 games and scored 22 goals and 52 points. He also made his NHL playoff debut, scoring a goal and helping his team.

The 1998–99 season was a huge year for Pavol. He scored 37 goals and 52 assists for 89 points, making him one of the top scorers in the entire NHL! He was also chosen to play in his first NHL All-Star Game.

In the 1999–2000 season, he continued to shine, leading the Blues in scoring with 75 points. He played in another All-Star Game and even scored his first career hat trick (three goals in one game). After this season, he won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, an award given to the player who shows the best sportsmanship and skill.

Even with some injuries, Pavol kept playing well. In the 2001–02 season, he played all 82 games and scored 35 goals and 78 points, again leading his team in scoring. His best NHL season was 2002–03, when he set a career high with 93 points (36 goals and 57 assists). He was one of the top six scorers in the NHL that year.

After the 2003–04 season, Pavol left the Blues. He is still one of the top five all-time scorers for the St. Louis Blues.

Time with the Kings and Wild

During the 2004–05 NHL season, there was a lockout, which meant no games were played. Pavol went back to play for HK Dukla Trenčín in Slovakia and led that league in scoring.

When the NHL started again, Pavol signed with the Los Angeles Kings in 2005. He scored 25 goals and 62 points in his first season with them, even though he missed some games due to injuries. After one season, he was traded to the Minnesota Wild.

With the Wild, Pavol played alongside his fellow Slovakian player, Marián Gáborík. In his first season (2006–07), he tied for the team lead in scoring with 64 points. He was even named captain for a month in 2007. He played two seasons with the Wild before becoming a free agent.

Joining the Vancouver Canucks

Pavol Demitra with the Vancouver Canucks.

In 2008, Pavol signed with the Vancouver Canucks. He scored his first goal with the Canucks in overtime, winning the game for his new team. He finished the season with 20 goals and 53 points. In the playoffs, he suffered a shoulder injury that ended his season early.

The 2009–10 season was tough for Pavol because of his shoulder injury, and he missed many games. He still played in the playoffs and helped the Canucks. This was his last season in the NHL. In total, Pavol played 847 NHL games, scoring 304 goals and 464 assists for 768 points.

Playing in Russia: KHL Career

After his NHL career, Pavol Demitra decided to play in the KHL in Russia. He joined Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in 2010. In his first season, he was a top scorer in the league with 60 points in 54 games. He was even named the KHL's Forward of the Month in January 2011. He also had a great playoff run, scoring 21 points.

Representing Slovakia: International Games

Demitra faces off with Henrik Sedin during the 2010 Olympics

Pavol Demitra was a proud player for his country, Slovakia. He played in many big international tournaments.

He played for Czechoslovakia as a junior, winning a gold medal at the 1992 European U18 Championship and a bronze medal at the 1993 World Junior Championships.

After Czechoslovakia split, he began playing for Slovakia. He played in six World Championships, winning a bronze medal in 2003. He was even the captain of the Slovak team in 2011.

Pavol also played in three Winter Olympics: 2002, 2006 (where he was captain), and 2010. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, he was amazing! He led all players in points with 10 and was named to the tournament's All-Star Team. In a memorable game, he helped Slovakia beat Russia in a shootout. He almost scored a game-tying goal against Canada in the semi-finals, but the Canadian goalie made a famous save.

Here are some of the competitions Pavol played in for Slovakia:

• 1996 World Championships
• 1996 World Cup
• 2002 Winter Olympics
• 2003 World Championships (bronze medal)
• 2004 World Championship
• 2004 World Cup
• 2005 World Championships
• 2006 Winter Olympics (captain)
• 2007 World Championships
• 2010 Winter Olympics
• 2011 World Championships (captain)

Awards and Special Achievements

Pavol Demitra earned many awards and achieved great things during his hockey career:

• He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2000 for his sportsmanship and skill.
• He was chosen to play in the NHL All-Star Game three times: in 1999, 2000, and 2002.
• At the 2010 Winter Olympics, he was selected as an all-star and was the leading scorer.
• He is ranked fifth on the St. Louis Blues' all-time scoring list with 493 points.
• Both the Slovakian national team and his former club team, HC Dukla Trenčín, retired his jersey number 38 to honor him.

His Legacy and Passing

Tribute to Pavol Demitra in Bratislava, Slovakia.

On 7 September 2011, a terrible accident happened. Pavol Demitra and his teammates from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl were on a plane flying to their first game of the KHL season. The plane crashed shortly after taking off, and almost everyone on board, including Pavol and his team, passed away.

Pavol was survived by his wife, Maja, and their two children, Lucas and Zara. He had also lost an infant son, Tobias, earlier.

After his passing, two important places were named after him to remember his legacy. The elementary school he attended in Dubnica nad Váhom and the ice hockey stadium in Trenčín, where he started his career, now carry his name. He is remembered as a great player and a wonderful person.

Career Statistics

Bold indicates led league

International

All-Star Games

See also

• Slovaks in the NHL
• List of ice hockey players who died during their playing career