Jan Bednář

Jan Bednář (born 26 August 2002) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for Ässät of the Finnish Liiga. Bednář was drafted 107th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Playing career During the 2018–19 Czech Extraliga season, Bednář made his professional debut for HC Karlovy Vary at the age of 16, becoming the youngest goaltender to play for Karlovy Vary. He recorded a 2.73 goals-against average (GAA) and .917 save percentage in 10 games. During the 2019–20 Czech Extraliga season, he recorded a 4.39 GAA and .884 save percentage in 13 games for Karlovy Vary. He also spent time with HC Banik Sokolov of Czech 2.liga, where he posted a 3.26 GAA and a .873 save percentage in 24 games.

Bednář was drafted second overall by the Acadie–Bathurst Titan in the CHL Import Draft. The Titans signed him on August 25, 2020.

Having concluded his junior career with the Titan, on 15 March 2023, Bednář embarked on his North American professional career in signing a two-year AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the primary affiliate to draft club, the Detroit Red Wings. He was then assigned to ECHL affiliate, the Toledo Walleye for the remainder of the 2022–23 season. He appeared in three games with a 1–1–0 record, a 3.01 GAA, and a .901 save percentage. During the 2023–24 season, in his first full pro season in North America with the Walleye, he appeared in 36 regular season games and posted a 22–7–2 record, with a 2.66 GAA and a .901 save percentage. On 3 June 2024, Bednar signed a one-year contract extension with the Griffins.

After three seasons within the Red Wings organization, Bednář left after his contract expired and returned to Europe, signing a one-year contract with Finnish club Ässät of the Liiga, on 19 June 2025.

International play Bednář represented the Czech Republic at the 2019 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded a 3.21 GAA and a .892 save percentage. He represented the Czech Republic at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 2018–19 HC Karlovy Vary ELH 10 2 8 0 593 27 0 2.73 .917 — — — — — — — — 2019–20 HC Karlovy Vary ELH 13 2 9 0 710 52 1 4.39 .883 — — — — — — — — 2019–20 Banik Sokolov CZE.2 24 8 16 0 — — 1 3.26 .873 — — — — — — — — 2020–21 HC Karlovy Vary ELH 5 3 2 0 231 16 0 4.16 .866 — — — — — — — — 2020–21 Acadie–Bathurst Titan QMJHL 12 6 5 0 679 41 0 3.62 .894 7 3 4 462 25 0 3.24 .908 2021–22 Acadie–Bathurst Titan QMJHL 47 28 14 4 2,733 124 2 2.72 .912 8 3 5 532 26 0 2.93 .895 2022–23 Acadie–Bathurst Titan QMJHL 10 4 5 1 564 42 0 4.46 .874 — — — — — — — — 2022–23 Toledo Walleye ECHL 3 1 1 0 140 7 0 3.01 .901 — — — — — — — — 2023–24 Toledo Walleye ECHL 36 22 7 6 2146 95 3 2.66 .901 5 4 1 304 12 0 2.37 .917 2024–25 Toledo Walleye ECHL 37 23 8 6 2259 88 4 2.34 .914 12 7 5 711 28 1 2.37 .909 2024–25 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL 4 1 2 0 198 7 0 2.12 .919 — — — — — — — — ELH totals 28 7 19 0 1,534 95 1 3.72 .893 — — — — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 2019 Czechia U17 3 0 3 149 12 0 4.83 .848 2019 Czechia U18 6th 2 0 1 78 4 0 3.09 .902 2022 Czechia WJC 4th 3 1 2 165 11 0 4.00 .851 Junior totals 8 1 6 392 27 0 4.13 .861