Samuel Hlavaj
| Samuel Hlavaj | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_by_Sandro_Halank%E2%80%93010.jpg) Hlavaj with HC Škoda Plzeň in 2024 | |||
| Born |
29 May 2001 Martin, Slovakia | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Catches | Left | ||
| NHL team (P) Cur. team Former teams |
Minnesota Wild Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL) HC Slovan Bratislava HC Škoda Plzeň | ||
| National team |
 Slovakia | ||
| NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 2021–present | ||
Samuel Hlavaj (born May 29, 2001, in Martin, Slovakia) is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender for the Iowa Heartlanders in the ECHL as a prospect to the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hlavaj has played for his country in the IIHF World Championships of 2023 and 2024.
Playing career
[edit]Junior hockey
[edit]Hlavaj signed for Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2018–19 season.[1] The following season, 2019–20, Hlavaj played for Canadian side Sherbrooke Phoenix, during which time he won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy.
Professional
[edit]Back in Europe, he played for Slovak team HC Slovan Bratislava for two seasons, before joining Czech side HC Škoda Plzeň in May 2023, signing a two-year contract.[2]
On April 5, 2024, it was announced that the NHL's Minnesota Wild had signed Hlavaj to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2024–25 NHL season .[3]
International play
[edit]Hlavaj played for the Slovakia men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[1] Hlavaj started three games for Slovakia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, and followed that up by playing five matches in the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Hlavaj poputuje do zámorskej USHL, dohodol sa s Lincoln Stars". sme.sk (in Slovak). 30 December 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Hokejová Plzeň podepsala nového brankáře, do klubu přichází Slovák Hlavaj" [Plzeň hockey signed a new goaltender, Slovak Hlavaj comes to the club]. idnes.cz (in Czech). 1 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
- ^ "Minnesota Wild Signs Goalie Samuel Hlavaj to Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com (Press release). 5 April 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
External links
[edit]- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
 | This Slovak biographical article relating to ice hockey is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |