Milan Nový

Milan Nový was a center who played for 16 seasons in the Czechoslovakian Elite League, winning six league titles between 1974-80, missing only 1979. He was a three-time winner (1977, 1981-82) of the Golden Stick Award, given to the top Czechoslovak hockey player each year. He led the Czechoslovak League in scoring six times (1973, 1976-78, 1981-82) and in goal scoring four times (1973, 1975-77). In 1976-77 he set the still-standing (as of 2013) league record of 90 points and 59 goals in 44 games. Nový was also incredibly durable, playing eight consecutive league seasons without missing a game.

His career was spent mostly with TJ Poldi SONP Kladno, playing with them from 1963-72, 1974-82, and 1987-89. He was with HC Dukla Jihlava from 1972-74. In 1982 Nový was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 3rd round of NHL Entry Draft and played one year in the National Hockey League, 1982-83, scoring 48 points in 73 games, but he never adjusted to the North America style or culture and returned to Europe for the 1983-84 season, where he played with ZSC Zürcher in the Swiss A League. He played two seasons with Zürcher and then one season in Austria with EV Wiener before finishing his career with Kladno.

Internationally, Nový starred at the 1976 Canada Cup, leading Czechoslovakia to a runner-up finish. He tied for the most goals in the tournament and was voted MVP of his team. He added a bronze medal at the 1981 Canada Cup. Nový played at seven World Championships, winning medals each time, with golds in 1976-77, silvers in 1975, 1978-79 and 1982, and a bronze in 1981. He also competed at the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal in 1976. He also led Czechoslovakia to victory at the 1974 Izvestia Cup, where he led all scorers with 14 goals. Milan Nový was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.