Jiří Dudáček

Jiří Dudáček
Born	(1962-04-04) April 4, 1962 Kladno, Czechoslovakia
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shot	Left
Played for	HK Kralupy nad Vltavou (Czech-3) ETC Crimmitschau (Ger-3 HC Kladno (CSK) HC Dukla Jihlava (CSK)
National team	Czechoslovakia
NHL Draft	17th overall, 1981 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	1978–1991 1994–1995 1999–2000

Jiří Dudáček (born April 4, 1962) is a former professional ice hockey right wing. He was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first Czechoslovak player to be selected in the first round of a National Hockey League draft. Dudáček was a star for the Czechoslovak team at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 1980 and 1981, and was considered by many NHL scouts to be the top junior prospect in the 1981 draft class.

As Czechoslovakia was a Communist country at the time of Dudáček's drafting, bringing him to North America was a difficult proposition for the Sabres organization. Dudáček's father was also a high-ranking Communist party member.

While other teams helped Czechoslovak players sneak out of their homeland to come to the NHL, Sabres general manager Scotty Bowman attempted to convince Czechoslovak officials to legally allow Dudáček to come to Buffalo. All efforts were declined by the Czechoslovak sports authorities, though, claiming Dudáček was "too young" to leave the country.

Playing career

Dudáček played for the Czechoslovak national ice hockey team in the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cups. He was among Czechoslovakia's leading scorers in 1981, tallying four goals and two assists in six games. In 1984, he went scoreless in four games.

Dudáček never made it to North America to play for the Sabres organization. Instead, he spent his career playing for HC Kladno and HC Jihlava in the Czechoslovak Extraliga, until his retirement in 1991.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1978–79	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		4	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		41	18	13	31	6		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		32	12	14	26	8		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		36	13	19	32	18		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		23	9	6	15	12		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	ASD Dukla Jihlava	TCH		39	14	4	18	10		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	ASD Dukla Jihlava	TCH		42	13	13	26	36		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		28	12	10	22	28		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Poldi SONP Kladno	CZE II		24	19	20	39	9		6	8	9	17	4
1987–88	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		39	23	28	51	33		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		34	13	19	32	22		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		53	11	17	28	54		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	Poldi SONP Kladno	TCH		43	11	14	25	24		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Épinal Écureuils	FRA I / FRA II		21	20	24	44	4		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	ETC Crimmitschau	DEU III		3	1	1	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	HK Kralupy nad Vltavou	CZE III		4	0	0	0	8		—	—	—	—	—
TCH totals				414	149	157	306	253		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1979	Czechoslovakia	EJC
1980	Czechoslovakia	EJC		5	7	1	8	6
1980	Czechoslovakia	WJC		5	0	0	0	2
1981	Czechoslovakia	WJC		4	2	1	3	0
1981	Czechoslovakia	CC		6	4	2	6	4
1982	Czechoslovakia	WJC		7	5	5	10	2
1984	Czechoslovakia	CC		3	0	0	0	0
Junior totals				21	14	7	21	10
Senior totals				9	4	2	6	4

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database