Pavol Demitra - hockey player-gentleman under number 38. Biography, career, achievements, tragic death

From the date of the death of the legendary Slovak striker Pavol Demitra, it took little more than five years. His gentleman's game is still remembered by many fans of hockey. For 19 years of his sports career, he was able to achieve world recognition.

short biography

Pavol Demitra is a hockey player from Slovakia, a world-famous striker. He was born in the city of Dubnica nad Vahom on November 29, 1974. His father was engaged in football, so the boy was given a section on this sport. In parallel, Pavol attended training in hockey. He liked to go ice skating. And at the age of fourteen he opted for hockey.

The height of the athlete - 1 m 83 cm, weight - 88 kg. His style of play was not aggressive, for his restraint and "beautiful, pure" hockey Pavol Demitra received the nicknames "gentleman" and "pan professor." In training and matches, the defender was always very serious, although in everyday life he liked jokes and fun. He played under number 38.

Promising start of Pavol Demitra

The first four years of sports career Slovak hockey player could not achieve high success. He was several times in the junior national team of Czechoslovakia, and in 1992 he became a gold medalist at the European Championships. At the age of 18 he was a player of HC "Dukla" from the city of Trenchin, where he spent one season in the national league.

On the draft NHL-1993 in Quebec Demitra to his team determined the Canadian "Ottawa Senators." In the ninth round he was selected under the general number 227. The first season of the Slovak central striker spent more games for the reserve team of the "Senators" - "Prince Edward Island Senators." As, however, in the next two years. From 1993 to 1996 Pavol Demitra at the Prince Edward Island farm club in the American hockey league played 150 matches, scored 72 goals and scored 196 points. But for the "Ottawa" in the NHL had only 59 games, scored 12 goals and collected 26 points.

In 1993, the defender became a member of the national youth team of Czechoslovakia and represented the country's main team at the World Championships. Then his state took with him a bronze medal, losing gold and silver to such countries as Canada and Sweden.

The best years in the career of an athlete

In 1996, the contract between Pavol and Ottawa Senators expired, and the hockey player returned to his native team Dukla. This season he spent with the Slovak club, took part in one game in the extra-league of his country. In this period he received an offer from the American HC "St. Louis Blues", speaking in the NHL.

Pavol Demitra as a member of the team from Missouri was for eight years. This time was the best years in the career of a hockey player. Slovak striker for the "St. Louis Blues" spent 494 games in the NHL, scored 204 goals against the opponents and earned 493 points. In 2004, a lockout period ensued, so Demitra participated in the Slovak extra-league with HC "Dukla". Next season he returned to the NHL as part of the American team, "Los Angeles Kings", which managed to play 58 games, score 62 points and score 25 goals. In 2006, the athlete was transferred to the Minnesota Wild. A year later, Pavol for one month was the captain of the team.

Go to "Locomotive"

In 2008, the Slovak hockey player signed a contract with the Canadian club "Vancouver Canucks". In the first season, the athlete managed to spend 69 games and collect 53 points, but the second was not very successful for him. The defender was rehabilitated after the injury, so missed most of the matches.

By 2010 Pavol Demitra fully restored his physical form and signed a one-year contract with the Russian HC Lokomotiv. In parallel, he received an offer from the American team "New York Rangers", but the hockey player rejected him. For the first season in HC "Lokomotiv" Demitra showed one of the best results among hockey players, he managed to score 81 points for 72 games. Then the Russian team extended the contract with the Slovak for another year.

Achievements of the striker

Pavol Demitra at the age of 22 first spoke for the national team of Slovakia at the World Cup and World Championship. Athlete three times became a member of the Match of all NHL Stars in the team of the "Stars of the World" as a right-handed hitter. In 1999, in the US, he was able to bring his team 3 goals, in 2000 in Canada - 7. In 2002, the Slovak athlete failed to score a puck.

In 2000, Pavol Demitra won the Lady Bing Trophy prize as a "pure" player with gentlemanly behavior on ice and a hockey player with a high level of skill. The Slovak sportsman was a recognized pro on execution of free throws in his style, which he often demonstrated on the field.

Pavol Demitra appeared at the World Championships in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2011 (in 2003 he became a bronze medalist). The hockey player of the Slovak national team became a participant of the Olympic Games three times - in 2002 they took the thirteenth place, and in 2006 - the fifth. In 2010 Demitra was recognized as the best scorer of the Olympics, the athlete scored 3 goals, made 7 assists, scored 10 points in 7 games. At the competitions in Vancouver the Slovak team reached the semi-finals, but lost third place to Finland, losing the match with a score of 5: 3.

In 2011, while in the HC "Lokomotiv", Pavol performed at the 3rd Continental Hockey League Championship. The team became a bronze medalist, and the Slovak athlete - the best striker in January.

The tragic death

Career Pavol Demitra ended suddenly. September 7, 2011 there was an unforeseen. A terrible plane crash at the airport Yaroslavl, on board which was the command "Locomotive", cut short the life of the Slovak hockey player at the age of 36 years.

Before his birthday, Demitra did not live two months. After the tragedy No. 38, the Slovak national team was permanently removed from circulation. The main team of the country Pavola in 2012 won silver. Players of the national team dedicated their medals to Demitra's memory and donned T-shirts with number 38 to the awarding ceremony.

Pavol was married, twice became a pope. He liked to listen to music in the style of rock, especially before the matches, but after the game he enjoyed films in the comedy genre.