Ján Lašák | |||
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Lašák at the 2008 IIHF World Championship
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Born |
Zvolen, TCH |
April 10, 1979 ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
Weight | 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb) | ||
Position | Goaltender | ||
Catches | Left | ||
National team | Slovakia | ||
NHL Draft | 65th overall, 1999 Nashville Predators |
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Playing career | 1999–present |
Medal record | ||
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Representing Slovakia | ||
Ice hockey | ||
IIHF World Championships | ||
2003 Finland | ||
2002 Sweden | ||
2000 Russia |
Ján Lašák (born April 10, 1979) is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Bílí Tygři Liberec of the Czech Extraliga. Lašák was drafted by the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2nd round (65th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and spent the following four seasons in North America before returning to Europe in 2003.
After Lašák was drafted by the Predators, he moved to North America and spent his first professional season with the Hampton Roads Admirals of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). He had a stellar debut, posting a 36-17-4 record, and was named ECHL Rookie of the Year and Goaltender of the Year, as well as to the All-Rookie and First All-Star teams. He spent the majority of the following three seasons with Nashville's top minor league affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. He posted a 53-49-12 record with Milwaukee, earning some limited action with the Predators. However, he was unable to earn a permanent spot with the Predators, appearing in only 6 games for the team, and posting an 0-4 record.
Due to his inability to stick with the Predators, Lašák decided to return to Europe and spent the 2003-04 season with SKA St. Petersburg of the Russian Super League. The following year Lašák moved to the Czech Republic to play with HC Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga, the team with which he would spend the next five seasons. He enjoyed much success with Pardubice, posting a 116-85-5 record and leading them to the league championship in 2004-05.