“We decided to unveil the plaque during the weekend celebrations of 730 years since the first written mention of Vojnov Městec. I believe that this is our most famous native, although there are other interesting personalities from us. Jaroslav Jiřík spent only a few years here before moving with his family. But even after that he came here on holidays and the old residents still remember him,” said Havlíček.
Jiřík was born in 1939. He played 450 games in the top domestic competition, scored exactly 300 goals and became a six-time league champion, winning five times with Brno and once with Kladno. In the national team, he collected 134 starts and scored 83 goals. He participated in the Olympic Games three times and competed in the World Championships ten times. He won silver medals from the 1968 Grenoble Olympics and the 1965 and 1966 World Championships.
“As an adult, I didn’t go here that often anymore. His relatives also moved away. But I know from my predecessor as mayor that Mr. Jiřík visited here a few years ago,” said Havlíček.
Jiřík was the first hockey player from the Eastern Bloc who could officially play in the NHL. For a short engagement overseas in the 1969/70 season, during which he played for St. Louis Blues three games, he flew away as an experienced, almost thirty-year-old player.
Jiřík died in 2011 as a pilot in a tragic accident of a sports plane near Brno. He had a passion for flying from an early age and piloted ultralights for many years. “In the same year, we invited him to such a festive event at our place. He promised to come, but unfortunately he died. And his former teammates have already arrived in his place,” said Havlíček.
After the end of his playing career, as a graduate of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, Jiřík also devoted himself to the profession of coach. He worked in Brno, Nitra and Pilsen, between 1977 and 1980 he led the Swiss national team.
2023-10-14 18:34:29
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