David Volek

David Volek (born 16 August 1966) In 1988 he gained permission from the Czech authorities to visit his parents in West Germany and used this permission to defect to Canada. He joined the New York Islanders, having been selected by them in the 1984 NHL entry draft, and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1988–89.

Volek is best remembered for scoring an overtime goal that eliminated the favoured and two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins from the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs. The goal came at 5:16 of overtime in the seventh (and deciding) game of the second round of the playoffs. CBC Hockey Night in Canada announcer Chris Cuthbert called Volek's play in a dramatic fashion:

The next year, a herniated disc forced Volek to retire from the NHL. Volek finished his NHL career, which was spent exclusively with the Islanders, with 95 goals and 154 assists for 249 points. He underwent back surgery the following year in an attempt to return to the game, but after five games with HC Sparta Praha, he was forced to retire for good.

Volek has been the assistant coach of HC Sparta Praha since 2005. Between his retirement from playing in 1996 and 2005 he was a scout.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1982–83 TJ Slavia PS Karlovy Vary CSSR-Jr — — — — — — — — — — 1983–84 TJ Slavia PS Karlovy Vary CSSR-Jr — — — — — — — — — — 1984–85 TJ Sparta ČKD Praha CSSR 32 5 5 10 14 — — — — — 1985–86 TJ Sparta ČKD Praha CSSR 35 10 7 17 — — — — — — 1986–87 TJ Sparta ČKD Praha CSSR 39 27 25 52 38 — — — — — 1987–88 TJ Sparta ČKD Praha CSSR 42 29 18 47 58 — — — — — 1988–89 New York Islanders NHL 77 25 34 59 24 — — — — — 1989–90 New York Islanders NHL 80 17 22 39 41 5 1 4 5 0 1990–91 New York Islanders NHL 77 22 34 56 57 — — — — — 1991–92 New York Islanders NHL 74 18 42 60 35 — — — — — 1992–93 New York Islanders NHL 56 8 13 21 34 10 4 1 5 2 1993–94 New York Islanders NHL 32 5 9 14 10 — — — — — 1995–96 HC Sparta Praha ELH 5 3 2 5 16 — — — — — 1995–96 HC Slavia Becherovka Karlovy Vary CZE II 16 7 4 11 — — — — — — 1996–97 TJ Stadion Nymburk CZE IV — — — — — — — — — — 1999–2000 NED Hockey Nymburk CZE III 4 3 1 4 2 — — — — — 2000–01 NED Hockey Nymburk CZE III 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — TCH totals 148 71 55 126 — — — — — — NHL totals 396 95 154 249 201 15 5 5 10 2

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1983 Czechoslovakia EJC 5 3 2 5 8 1984 Czechoslovakia EJC 5 5 5 10 2 1986 Czechoslovakia WJC 7 4 3 7 6 1987 Czechoslovakia WC 10 3 1 4 2 1987 Czechoslovakia CC 6 2 2 4 2 1988 Czechoslovakia OLY 7 1 2 3 2 1991 Czechoslovakia WC 10 3 2 5 8 Junior totals 17 12 10 22 16 Senior totals 33 9 7 16 14