Jiří Dudáček

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
position = Right Wing
shot =
height_ft = 5
height_in = 9
weight_lb = 170
prospect_team =
prospect_league =
nationality = TCH
birth_date = Birth date and age|1962|4|4|mf=y
birth_place = Kladno, CS
career_start = 1978
career_end = 1991
draft = 17th overall
draft_year = 1981
draft_team = Buffalo Sabres
played_for =

Jiří Dudáček (born April 4, 1962, in Kladno, Czechoslovakia) 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. [ [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1981/81017.html 1981 NHL Entry Draft - Jiri Dudacek ] ]

As Czechoslovakia was a Communist country at the time of Dudáček's drafting, bringing him to North America was a difficult proposition for the Sabre 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. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2001/07/03/sayitaintso_sabres/#dudacek CNNSI.com - Hockey - Say It Ain't So: Buffalo Sabres - Thursday December 06, 2001 11:46 AM ] ] [ [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1981/81017.html 1981 NHL Entry Draft - Jiri Dudacek ] ]

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. [ [http://www.hhof.com/html/TeamRosterCCUP1981TCH.shtml Hockey Hall of Fame - Pro Classics: Canada Cup 1981 Czechoslovakia Team Roster ] ] In 1984, he went scoreless in four games. [ [http://www.hhof.com/html/TeamRosterCCUP1984TCH.shtml Hockey Hall of Fame - Pro Classics: Canada Cup 1984 Czechoslovakia Team Roster ] ]

Dudáček never made it to North America to play for the Sabre 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 ---Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM------------------------------------------------------------------1980-81 HC Kladno CZE 44 10 18 281981-82 - statistics unavailable -1982-83 - statistics unavailable -1983-84 - statistics unavailable -1984-85 - statistics unavailable -1985-86 - statistics unavailable -1986-87 - statistics unavailable -1987-88 HC Kladno CZE 39 23 28 511988-89 HC Kladno CZE 53 11 17 281989-90 - statistics unavailable -1990-91 HC Kladno CZE 43 11 14 251994-95 ETC Crimmitschau Ger2 3 1 1 2------------------------------------------------------------------

External links

*hockeydb|47746
* [http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1981/81017.html Jiri Dudacek @ hockeydraftcentral.com]

References