Former Slovak hockey defender Zdeno Chára was a great honor. Stanley Cup winner 2011, longtime representative and captain of silver medalists from the World Championship 2012 They introduced the Hall of Fame of the International Hockey Federation (IIHF) on Sunday. Chara got into it as the eleventh Slovak player in history.
The ceremony took place in Stockholm on the final day 88. In addition to Chára, six other important hockey personalities have also been admitted to the exclusive club – new members of the IIHF Hall of Fame are also a former Swedish goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist, Danish Center Frans Nielsen, Czech Wingman David excellent, as well as former representatives Kim Martin-Hasson from Sweden and Vicky Sunohar from Canada. They also introduced officials to the Hall of Fame Pier hietarinu, former President of the Finnish Hockey Association.
“It is an incredible privilege and honor that I can stand here as a new member of the I“ He said Chara in a thank -you speech.
„The IIHF Hall of Fame is something that can’t be won, but you have to deserve it. And you deserve it with hard work and you can’t do it yourself. It is a testament for all who stood behind me, supported me and believed me. Hockey is a sport that is much more than just a game, it’s a way of life, community and culture,“ added.
Chara is one of the most successful athletes in Slovak history. In the 2008/2009 season, the iconic defender won the prestigious Norris trophy for the best NHL. He played a total of 24 seasons in the overseas profile, during which he left an extraordinary track. In February 2022 he became a defender with the historically largest number of NHL duels played – he played in 1680 matches of the regular season. He spent fourteen seasons in Boston, with all of which he graduated with the captain’s „C -C -C.“.
In 2011 he became only the second European and the first Slovak to lead the Captain’s position to the Stanley Cup. Bruins brought the playoffs to the final in 2019, but they were not enough at St. Louis. He also started his profilig’s career in the New York Islanders jersey, and IV Ottawa and Washington. In the regular season he scored 209 goals, 471 assists (680 points), 2085 penalty minutes and 301 plus points.
In 200 playoff matches he scored 18 goals, 52 assists (70 points), 218 penalty minutes and 50 pluses. He got three times to the first and four times to the second All Star team of the NHL. In addition to Norris’s trophy, he also has the Award of Mark Messier for the best leader. He ended his gaming career at the age of 45 before the year 2022/2023.
Trenčín native was with a body height of 206 cm highest in the history of the NHL and had to have an exception to the length of his stick and blade. The characteristics of his games included an overview, emphasis, but also an extremely hard shot. Its performance of 175.1 km/h, which achieved in the NHL star in 2012, is still unplayed in the profile. At the end of his career, the fourth oldest player was ever played in the competition.
In old age, only Gordie Howe, Chlios and Jaromír Jágr. Since the draft in 1996, he appeared three times on European skating rinks. At the beginning of the 2001/2002 season he played eight matches for Dukla Trenčín in the Slovak Extraliga and the whole season 2004/2005, when the NHL did not play for the lockout, spent in Färjestade, Sweden. He also used the half -year exclusion in the NHL in the 2012/2013 season to work in Europe when he played 25 matches for Lev Prague in KHL.
Chara also made a significant way to the international scene. Slovakia represented at three Winter Olympics (2006, 2010 and 2014), seven World Championships and started at two World Cups (2004, 2016). He won two silver medals at the World Championship – in 2000 in St. Petersburg and Helsinki 2012, where he led the national team as a captain. He also had a “C” on the jersey at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2001 World Cup. At the 2012 World Championship he was declared the best defender of the championship. At the World Cup 2016 he finished second with the team of Europe.
“I want to thank my family, my wife Tatiana, my daughter Elliz and two of my sons Ben and Zack. Thanks for your love, constant support and endless faith in my abilities. Your sacrifices and love gave me the opportunity and opportunity to get closer to the stars. said Chara, who also thanked his mother, father or sister: “You have always supported me to go to my dreams. Father Zdeněk has always told me that hard work, passion, personal discipline and strong will will lead me further than anyone would expect. He was wrong.”
He also mentioned his former teammates, coaches, best friends, agent Matt Keator and player scout Ján Gajdošík. “Hockey is a team sport and I have dedicated everything to him. It is about commemorative moments, triumphs, relationships and friendships. My most beautiful memories are linked to the medals with the Slovak national team AK Stanley Cup.”
Finally, he thanked the National Team and the Hockey Association and in Slovak he also spoke to Slovak fans: “Thank you all for your support. Without you, it would not be possible. I always felt your energy, passion and love for this game.” He added that the greatest reward in hockey was the opportunity to motivate others with his hard work, discipline and zeal and inspire young players who dream of working in great leagues and achievements.
He got to the I Žigmund Pálffy (2019) and Igor Lib (2024).
