Samuel Hlavaj

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Samuel Hlavaj
Hlavaj with HC Škoda Plzeň in 2024
Born (2001-05-29) 29 May 2001 (age 22)
Martin, Slovakia
Height 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 99 kg (218 lb; 15 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams
Minnesota Wild
HC Slovan Bratislava
HC Škoda Plzeň
National team  Slovakia
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2021–present

Samuel Hlavaj (born May 29, 2001, in Martin, Slovakia) is a Slovak ice hockey goaltender who played for his country in the IIHF World Championships of 2023 and 2024.[1] On April 5, 2024, it was announced that the NHL's Minnesota Wild had signed Hlavaj to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2024–25 NHL season .[2]

Playing career[edit]

Junior hockey[edit]

Hlavaj signed for Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2018–19 season.[3] The following season, 2019–20, Hlavaj played for Canadian side Sherbrooke Phoenix, during which time he won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy.

Europe[edit]

Back in Europe, he played for Slovak team HC Slovan Bratislava for two seasons, before joining Czech side HC Škoda Plzeň in May 2023, signing a two-year contract.[4]

International play[edit]

Hlavaj played for the Slovakia men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[3] Hlavaj started three games for Slovakia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, and followed that up by playing five matches in the 2024 IIHF World Championship.

References[edit]

  1. ^ https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/292689/samuel-hlavaj
  2. ^ "Minnesota Wild Signs Goalie Samuel Hlavaj to Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com (Press release). 5 April 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Hlavaj poputuje do zámorskej USHL, dohodol sa s Lincoln Stars". sme.sk (in Slovak). 30 December 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Hokejová Plzeň podepsala nového brankáře, do klubu přichází Slovák Hlavaj" [Plzeň hockey signed a new goaltender, Slovak Hlavaj comes to the club]. idnes.cz (in Czech). 1 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.

External links[edit]