NHL Organization Issues a Statement as a Tragic Passing Takes Place
Denik Sport recently reported the passing of a former NHL goaltender, Roman Čechmánek, known for his time with the Philadelphia Flyers. At 52 years old, Čechmánek's hockey journey began when he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 NHL Draft, an interesting fact considering he was already 29 years old.
Boasting seven years of professional hockey experience in Czechia, Čechmánek made a significant impact when he debuted with the Philadelphia Flyers on October 17th. In his inaugural season, he played 59 games, securing a remarkable 35-15-6 record and an impressive .921 save percentage. Despite being deemed too old for rookie status, Čechmánek's performance would have ranked him second in save percentage among modern-era Flyers goalies, just behind Doug Favell in the 1967-68 season.
Continuing his consistency, Čechmánek maintained a .921 save percentage in his sophomore season, playing 46 games and achieving a record of 24-13-6. However, it was his third season that stood out, recording a .925 save percentage and a notable 33-15-10 record. This stellar performance earned him the William M. Jennings award for allowing the fewest goals against, even though he placed seventh in Vezina voting.
Following his time with the Flyers, Čechmánek played one more NHL season with the Los Angeles Kings, finding continued success. However, his NHL career concluded after a year with the Kings. He returned to Czechia, participating in various European pro leagues before retiring in the 2007-08 season. Notably, he achieved a career-high .948 save percentage in the 2006-07 season in Czechia's top league.
Despite his relatively short NHL career, Roman Čechmánek left a lasting impression, always drawing attention when he took the ice.
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