Miroslav Dvořák

A defenseman, Miroslav Dvořák started his professional career in 1967 with the junior team of HC Motor České Budějovice, moving to the Army club of HC Dukla Jihlava in 1972. But he returned to HC Motor České Budějovice in 1974 and played most of his career, which lasted through 1989, with them. In 1982 Dvořák was chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 3rd round of the NHL Entry Draft, and played three seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Flyers, appearing in 193 NHL games. At the international level, Dvořák played frequently for Czechoslovakia, starting with the 1970 European Junior Championships. In addition to his two Olympic appearances, which included a silver medal in 1976, he appeared in eight World Championships, winning a medal each time, with two golds in 1976-77, and six silvers in 1974-75, 1978-79, and 1982-83. He also skated for the national side at the Canada Cup in 1976, helping them to runner-up finish, and in 1981, when they placed third. Dvořák later ran a restaurant and hotel in Hluboká nad Vltavou in Southern Bohemia. He died in 2008 from throat cancer, with his family playing Antonin Dvořák’s “New World Symphony” at his funeral.