Zdeno Hara - Slovak Gulliver

In the overseas hockey league have seen different players - courageous and brave, snooty and calm, big and small, but, perhaps, such a hockey player as Slovak Zdeno Hara, there is not one hockey team in the world.

Birth of the giant

In Slovakia, this kind of sport, like ice hockey, is very popular. Every boy from childhood dreams to be like the stars of domestic hockey, as Stefan Ruzicka. Zdeno Hara, whose biography began in the town of Trencin, in Czechoslovakia, was no exception. He was born in 1977, on March 18. His father was engaged in Greco-Roman wrestling and even took part in the 1976 Olympics. So sports genes were laid in Zdeno Hara.

But unlike his father, he chose hockey and since childhood he has not missed a single broadcast of the match of the national team of Czechoslovakia. The dream of every young hockey player was, of course, the overseas hockey league, which collected in its clubs the best and most talented players. But for this it was necessary to work hard, and Zdeno worked hard to train his dreams before the seventh sweat.

The first NHL club

Ice hockey in Canada and the US is considered one of the most popular sports, and to get into the top team, you need to be a truly talented hockey player. His path in the overseas league of Hara began with the club "Prince George Kugers" in 1996, and a year later he was chosen under the 56th number of the famous "New York Islanders".

Having spent four seasons for New Yorkers, Zdeno Hara did not differ much in anything, and the whole team was going through hard times. The first significant club in his career was "Ottawa Senators", which he moved to in 2001. "Islanders" have long dreamed of getting Alexei Yashin, who at that time was one of the leaders of the Canadian club. In that season, there was an exchange: Khara went to the ranks of the "senators", and Yashin got a chic terms by signing a contract with the "New York Islanders".

Canadian club "Ottawa Senators"

Later, the managers of the New York club will regret this exchange more than once: their bet on Yashin did not work, he simply disappeared into the team and was not anything special, and Hara beautifully revealed his full potential as a defender and became irreplaceable.

The very first season for the new club Zdeno Hara spent on the rise, almost doubled its attacking actions, which could not but affect the game of the team as a whole. In the second season he was already honored to get to the match of all the stars and for the first time to demonstrate his strength of throw. He was barely enough to get around the then-leader and record-holder El MacInnis. Then he became the second in this contest of "artillerymen."

Despite its far from hockey dimensions (206 cm), Zdeno Hara does not look heavy and slow on the ice, this does not affect his speed qualities in any way. At any time he is ready to carefully cover his forward, and on the patch at his own gate acts reasonably neatly, on one side blocking the path to the opponent, and on the other, without obscuring the goalkeeper's view of the entire site.

Boston "bears"

In 2006, Zdeno Hara (whose statistics improved with each season), received the status of a free agent, unable to agree on a new, profitable contract with "Ottawa Senators." But such defenders as Khara on the road are not lying around, and the hockey player did not stay long without a team. The next club with which he signs a 5-year contract, is "Boston Bruins."

Not only does he conclude a profitable deal with the "bears", he also becomes a captain of the club. Before him it was possible only two natives of Slovakia - Peter Stiaсna and Stan Mikita. This season, Hara already becomes accustomed to everyone in the match of all stars, and, finally, the contest wins on the strength of the throw. The unequivocal leader in this indicator Zdeno Hara sends the puck at a speed of 100.4 miles per hour. Also in fights, he throws and two goals.

Dirty player

It can not be said that the Slovakian legionary is distinguished by a soft game on the hockey ground. Statistics of penalty points for the season is quite impressive. But with this size and will not be able to play in a different way, especially since it is responsible for the outcome of the duels. All players and coach of Boston "bears" love and appreciate their captain precisely because he is always ready to help with practical advice and give the right mood before the match.

Despite the fact that Zdeno Hara repeatedly set a new record in the strength of the throw, for him the success of the team is more important. According to him, he would give all his personal titles in exchange for the opportunity to raise the Stanley Cup over his head. "Big Z", as they call him in the NHL, is the true leader of his club, who does not regret on the ice not only his rivals, but himself. After all, in tough encounters, Khara himself was getting quite dangerous injuries, even suffered several operations.

But the love of the game called "hockey" makes the Slovak Gulliver go out on the ice as the last time and do not take care of your strength and health for the sake of the club's victory.