Jiří Holeček

Jiří Holeček (born March 18, 1944) was a prominent ice hockey goaltender who played in the Czechoslovak Elite League from 1964 to 1979, and on the Czechoslovak national team for many years. He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

After beginning his career on the Kladno team in 1964-65, Holecek played for Sparta Prague from 1965 to 1976 (except 1969-71, when he played for Jihlava). From 1976 to 1979 he played for České Budějovice. Holecek played 488 league games and won six championships, as well as the Czechoslovak Golden Hockey Stick award for the best player in 1974.

He played 164 games for the national team, including ten World Championships (leading the team to gold in 1972, 1976, and 1977), being named the best goaltender five times. He played at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics and the 1976 Canada Cup.

Holecek finished his playing career in 1981 in Germany. In 1980s he worked as a coach of the Czechoslovak national ice hockey team goaltenders. He was inducted into the IIHF hall of fame in 1998.

Currently, he is working as goalie coach for one of the Prague junior hockey teams called HC Hvězda Praha.