Jan Suchý was an attacking defenseman who began his club career in Czechoslovakia with Jiskra Havlíčkův Brod, playing with them from 1961-63, before he moved to HC Dukla Jihlava, playing there from 1963-79. Suchý then finished his career with three seasons in Austria and two in Germany, playing for Stadlau Wien (1979-81), ESV Kaufbeuren and EV Landsberg (1981-83), and retiring after his final season with UEC Mödling in Austria. During his Czechoslovak career, he scored 164 goals in 562 games, making him still the highest scoring defenseman in league history (through 2013). He was awarded the first two Golden Stick Awards (1969-70), given to the top player in Czechslovakia.
Internationally, Suchý won a silver medal at the 1968 Winter Olympics, and was named to the Olympic All-Star team that year. He competed at seven World Championships (1965-67, 1969-71, 1974), winning silver medals in 1965-66, 1971 and 1974, and bronze medals in 1969-70. He was also named to the All-Star team at Worlds in 1969-71, and was voted as the Best Defenseman at the Worlds in 1969 and 1971. Suchý missed playing for the national team in 1972-73 after a drunk driving incident in 1971 in which several people were badly injured. He was sentenced by a military court to 18 months in jail but was granted early release. Suchý was also the first European player placed on an NHL protected list when the Boston Bruins claimed him in the late 60s, but he could not play in North America because of Czechoslovakian government restrictions.
Czechoslovakia
Czechia