Robert Reichel

Robert Reichel (born June 25, 1971) is a Czech former professional ice hockey centre and coach. He began his career with HC Litvínov of the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League; his 49 goals in 1989–90 was the second highest total in Czechoslovakian history. Reichel played 11 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons for the Calgary Flames, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and Toronto Maple Leafs. In 830 career NHL games, he scored 252 goals and 378 assists for 630 points. He also played with the Frankfurt Lions of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He ended his player career in 2010 in HC Litvínov, where he served as captain of the team. Internationally, Reichel represented Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic on numerous occasions. He was an all-star at the European Junior, World Junior and World Championship levels and appeared in Canada Cup and World Cup of Hockey tournaments. He was a member of three gold and four bronze medal teams at the World Championships. A two-time Olympian, Reichel scored the lone shootout goal to eliminate Canada en route to a gold medal victory for the Czech Republic at the 1998 Winter Olympics. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2015. Playing career Litvínov, Calgary and New York Reichel began his elite playing career at the age of 16 when he joined CHZ Litvínov of the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League. In his first two seasons, he recorded 27 points in 1987–88 and 48 points in 1988–89. Anticipating future availability of eastern European players to their teams, National Hockey League (NHL) general managers selected several Soviet Bloc players at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. Reichel was selected in the fourth round, 70th overall, by the Calgary Flames. Reichel remained with Litvínov for the 1989–90 season where he had one of the greatest seasons in Czechoslovakian history; in 52 games combined between the regular season and playoffs, Reichel scored 49 goals, the second highest total in the history of the Czechoslovakian First League. He was named an all-star and forward of the year and finished as runner-up to Dominik Hašek as player of the year.