Matěj Blümel

Matěj Blümel (born 31 May 2000) is a Czech professional ice hockey player who is a forward who is currently playing for HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga (ELH) and the Czech national team.

Playing career Blümel, as a youth, began his career within HC Dynamo Pardubice, joining the club as a 13-year-old and featuring through all junior levels. He spent to two junior season in North America, playing with the Waterloo Black Hawks in the United States Hockey League (USHL) before he was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth-round, 100th overall, of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Blümel returned to the Czech Republic and made his professional debut with Dynamo Pardubice during the 2019–20 season. In a depth role, he continued his development in recording 4 goals through 31 regular-season games.

Following his third full season in the ELH, and with his draft rights not retained by the Oilers, Blümel was signed as a free agent to a two-year, entry-level contract with the Dallas Stars on 7 June 2022.

Blümel scored his first career NHL goal against the Philadelphia Flyers on 13 November 2022.

During the 2024–25 season in the AHL with the Texas Stars, Blümel scored a league-leading 39 goals in 67 games, and with 72 points finished only one behind the league leader in that category as well. He received the Willie Marshall Award as the top goal scorer, and was selected as a First Team All-Star.

Unable to secure a role in the NHL with the Stars, Blümel left as a free agent to a sign a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Boston Bruins for the season on 1 July 2025. In making his choice, Blümel said he was choosing between the Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it was Bruins star and fellow Czech David Pastrňák who reached out and convinced Blümel to choose Boston. In the season, Blümel played predominately with AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, posting 52 points through 58 regular season games. He briefly played in the NHL with the Bruins, going scoreless through 4 appearances.

As a free agent from the Bruins, Blümel opted to halt his career in North America, returning to his native Czech Republic and securing a long-term, four-year contract with HC Sparta Praha of the ELH, on 14 July 2026.

International play

Blümel represented the Czech Republic at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, collecting 1 goal in 5 games to help Czechia finish in 7th place.

He returned with the Czech Republic in the following 2022 IIHF World Championship hosted in Finland, and produced four goals and 8 points through 10 games to help Czechia claim their first medal in 10 years in capturing the bronze.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Bold indicates led league Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2016–17 HC Dynamo Pardubice Czech.20 3 1 2 3 2 — — — — — 2017–18 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 50 8 10 18 10 2 0 0 0 0 2018–19 Waterloo Black Hawks USHL 58 30 30 60 22 4 3 1 4 2 2019–20 HC Dynamo Pardubice ELH 31 4 1 5 18 — — — — — 2020–21 HC Dynamo Pardubice ELH 49 17 15 32 6 8 2 2 4 0 2021–22 HC Dynamo Pardubice ELH 49 12 12 24 8 5 0 0 0 0 2022–23 Texas Stars AHL 58 19 25 44 6 6 0 1 1 0 2022–23 Dallas Stars NHL 6 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 2023–24 Texas Stars AHL 72 31 31 62 37 7 5 4 9 4 2024–25 Dallas Stars NHL 7 1 0 1 0 — — — — — 2024–25 Texas Stars AHL 67 39 33 72 26 14 7 9 16 4 2025–26 Providence Bruins AHL 58 21 31 52 20 4 2 0 2 0 2025–26 Boston Bruins NHL 4 0 0 0 0 — — — — — ELH totals 129 33 28 61 32 13 2 2 4 0 NHL totals 17 2 0 2 0 — — — — —

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2016 Czech Republic U17 8th 5 0 1 1 2 2017 Czech Republic IH18 5 0 2 2 0 2018 Czech Republic U18 4th 7 2 2 4 6 2020 Czech Republic WJC 7th 5 1 0 1 0 2021 Czech Republic WC 7th 5 1 0 1 0 2022 Czechia WC 10 4 4 8 0 2026 Czechia WC 5th 7 2 2 4 0 Junior totals 22 3 5 8 8 Senior totals 22 7 6 13 0

Awards and honors