Ondřej Pavelec

Ondřej Pavelec (Czech: [ˈondr̝ej ˈpavɛlɛts]; born 31 August 1987) is a Czech former professional ice hockey goaltender. Drafted in the second round, 41st overall, by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005, he stayed with the team as they became the Winnipeg Jets in 2011, and played his final season with the New York Rangers. During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Pavelec played for Bílí Tygři Liberec of the Czech Extraliga (ELH) and Pelicans of the Finnish SM-liiga.

Ondřej Pavelec
Pavelec with the Winnipeg Jets in 2016
Born (1987-08-31) 31 August 1987
Kladno, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Atlanta Thrashers
Winnipeg Jets
Bílí Tygři Liberec
Pelicans
New York Rangers
National team  Czech Republic
NHL Draft 41st overall, 2005
Atlanta Thrashers
Playing career 20072018
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Czech Republic
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Cologne
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Bratislava

Playing career

Junior

Pavelec playing with the 2006–07 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Pavelec during the 2011–12 season

Pavelec was drafted in the first round of the 2005 CHL Import Draft by the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He was also drafted by the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers in the second round, 41st overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He played two seasons with the Screaming Eagles and helped them to a semi-final finish in the 2006–07 season.

Pavelec was a First Team All-Star in each of his two seasons with Cape Breton, and won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy for best goals against average (GAA) in both years, making him only the fourth player to repeat as Jacques Plante Trophy winner and the first in 20 years to do so (Robert Desjardins was the last). As a rookie, took home the Raymond Lagacé Trophy and RDS Trophy, awarded to top defensive rookie and rookie of the year, respectively. His numbers were remarkably consistent over the two seasons, as he recorded GAAs of 2.51 in 2005–06 and 2.52 in 2006–07, with save percentages of .929 and .908, respectively.

Professional

Pavelec signed a professional contract with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2007, joining their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. On 18 May 2007, Pavelec shut-out the Toronto Marlies 5–0 in the AHL's Western Conference Finals. Pavelec helped Wolves win the Calder Cup in the 2007–08 season.

After starting nine games for Chicago in the 2008–09 season, Pavelec was recalled to the NHL after Thrashers starter Kari Lehtonen suffered an injury. Pavelec played his first NHL game on 20 October 2007, then made his first NHL start, and recorded his first NHL win, against the Tampa Bay Lightning on 3 November 2007. He was playing with Atlanta since being called up on 1 November 2008, until he was reassigned to the Wolves on 19 December 2008. He later returned to the Thrashers.

On 8 October 2010, Pavelec collapsed and lost consciousness during a game against the Washington Capitals while there was a break in play at 2:25 into the first period. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.[1] He regained consciousness while at the hospital and was in stable condition, and apparently was concerned about the score in the game, which the Thrashers won 4–2. It was determined after testing by doctors that the cause of his collapse was neurocardiogenic syncope, a type of fainting spell, and that he received a concussion and lost consciousness after his head hit the ice. He was released from the hospital on 11 October 2010.[2][3] He would return to the ice in a 3-4 shootout loss to the St Louis Blues on 30 October 2010.[4]

Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Pavelec returned to his native Czech Republic, where he was expected to join HC Oceláři Třinec. However, he signed with Bílí Tygři Liberec instead, where he joined fellow NHLer Ladislav Šmíd.[5] During the 2014–15 season, Pavelec set a Winnipeg Jets franchise record by recording three shutouts in a row, going 187:05 without allowing a goal. He was instrumental in helping the team qualify for their first ever Stanley Cup playoffs since the franchise relocated from Atlanta to Winnipeg in 2011.

Pavelec was placed on waivers by the Jets on 10 October 2016 and was subsequently sent down to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL. The Jets recalled Pavelec on 17 January 2017,[6] and he played his first game of the 2016–17 season on 18 January 2017.[7] Shortly following his debut, Pavelec set a franchise record for most saves in a period after he made 25 saves in the second period to lead the team to a 5–3 win over the St. Louis Blues.[8]

On 1 July 2017, having left the Thrashers/Jets as a free agent after ten professional seasons with the franchise, Pavelec signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the New York Rangers.[9]

On 20 September 2018, Pavelec announced his retirement after an 11-year career.[10][11]

International play

Pavelec at the 2014 Winter Olympics

Pavelec led the Czech Republic under-17 team to a second-place finish in the 2004 Junior World Cup, and the under-18 squad to a fourth-place finish at the U-18 World Junior Cup. He was also the starting goalie for the Czech Republic junior team at the 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Vancouver, Kelowna and Kamloops, British Columbia.

Pavelec then played for the senior Czech team at the 2010 World Championships, helping capture a gold medal. He also competed in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Sochi, respectively. In between the two Olympic tournaments, he helped lead the Czechs to a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLOTLMINGASOGAASV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2002–03 HC Vagnerplast Kladno CZE U18 72.21.911 22.77.921
2003–04 HC Rabat Kladno CZE U18 3820797732.22.922 26.27.696
2004–05 HC Rabat Kladno CZE U20 3922188572.30.930 102.45.920
2004–05 HK Lev Slaný CZE.3 160404.00
2005–06 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL 4728172257810832.51.929 9455061902.25.926
2006–07 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL 432811023359812.52.908 161159703722.29.920
2007–08 Chicago Wolves AHL 5233163303314022.77.911 2416814385622.34.921
2007–08 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 73303471803.11.905
2008–09 Chicago Wolves AHL 4018202241710432.58.914
2008–09 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 123705993603.61.880
2009–10 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 4214187231712723.29.906
2010–11 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 5821239322514742.73.914
2010–11 Chicago Wolves AHL 101058303.10.864
2011–12 Winnipeg Jets NHL 6929289393219142.91.906
2012–13 Bílí Tygři Liberec ELH 1441007724503.50.896
2012–13 Pelicans SM-l 62.68.912
2012–13 Winnipeg Jets NHL 4421203255311902.80.905
2013–14 Winnipeg Jets NHL 5722267324816313.01.901
2014–15 Winnipeg Jets NHL 5022168283810852.28.920 4042411503.73.891
2015–16 Winnipeg Jets NHL 331313419008812.78.904
2016–17 Manitoba Moose AHL 1887210594902.78.917
2016–17 Winnipeg Jets NHL 84404422603.55.888
2017–18 New York Rangers NHL 194919044613.05.910
NHL totals 3981561674822,3031,069182.88.907 4042411503.73.891

International

Year Team Event GPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
2005 Czech Republic WJC18 74303761312.07.932
2007 Czech Republic WJC 52302751503.28.890
2010 Czech Republic WC 101059303.05.800
2011 Czech Republic WC 87104791521.88.939
2013 Czech Republic WC 5320297701.42.938
2014 Czech Republic OG 42202091002.87.889
2015 Czech Republic WC 96305171711.97.912
Senior totals 27189015615232.00.920

Awards and achievements

  • Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy (QMJHL's lowest GAA) – 2006, 2007
  • Raymond Lagacé Trophy (QMJHL's defensive rookie of the year) – 2006
  • RDS Cup (QMJHL's rookie of the year) – 2006
  • QMJHL First All-Star Team – 2006, 2007
  • QMJHL All-Rookie Team – 2006
  • AHL Calder Cup – 2007–2008 Chicago Wolves

References

  1. "Pavelec collapses during game". National Hockey League. 11 October 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  2. "Thrashers' Pavelec in Stable Condition in Atlanta Hospital". The Sporting News. October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  3. "Ondrej Pavelec in stable condition". ESPN. October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  4. "Atlanta Thrashers at St. Louis Blues Box Score — October 30, 2010". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  5. "Místo Třince by měl Pavelec chytat v Liberci. Kindl míří do Pardubic". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). 20 September 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  6. "Winnipeg Jets recall Ondrej Pavelec, will start on Wednesday". Sportsnet.ca. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  7. "Pavelec lifts Jets past Coyotes 6–3 in season debut". ESPN. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  8. Billeck, Scott (21 January 2017). "Ondrej Pavelec sets Jets record in win". National Hockey League. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  9. "Rangers agree to terms with Ondrej Pavelec". New York Rangers. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  10. "Former Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec retires from pro hockey". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  11. Hobson, Russ (20 September 2018). "Former Winnipeg Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec retires". Global News. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
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