Roman Čechmánek, a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender, had a career spanning the United States, the Czech Republic, and Germany. He played in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings from 2000 to 2004.
Bio/Wiki
Age-52 years
Height- 191 cm
Weight- 96 kg
Born- 2 March 1971
Birth place- Zlín, Czechia
Died- 12 November 2023
Spouse- Dagmar Čechmánková (m. 1992)
Profession- Czech ice hockey playe
Nationality- Czech
Playing career- 1989–2009
National team- Czech Republic
NHL Draft- 171st overall, 2000; Philadelphia Flyers
Parents
Roman Čechmanek, born on March 2, 1971, in Chrudim, Czech Republic, stands out as one of the most renowned and affluent Ice Hockey Players. Unfortunately, details about his parents are not available.
Wife
In 1992, Čechmánek married with Dagmar Čechmánková. Following his passing, he is survived by his children Jakub, Roman Jr., and Katerina.
Career
Čechmánek was part of HC Vsetín in the Czech Republic from 1994 to 2000. Drafted in the sixth round as the 171st overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, he surprised many in his first season with the team by securing the starting goaltender position over Brian Boucher. Čechmánek had an impressive debut, earning a spot in the NHL All-Star Game and finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting. However, he faced disappointment in the playoffs, notably allowing five goals in an 8–0 loss during the final game of the Flyers’ first-round series against the Buffalo Sabres.
In the following season, Čechmánek continued his strong performance, but the Philadelphia offense struggled, setting a record low by scoring only two goals in five games against the Ottawa Senators. Publicly expressing frustration with his teammates’ performance, Čechmánek shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Flyers teammate Robert Esche and Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils in another standout season. Despite pitching two shutouts in a second-round loss to Ottawa, criticism arose due to the soft goals he allowed in the other four games. He was eventually traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a second-round draft pick.
Facing a challenging season with the Kings, Čechmánek returned to HC Vsetín during the cancelled 2004–05 NHL season. He split the 2005–06 season between HC Karlovy Vary and the Hamburg Freezers. In early 2007, he left Linköpings HC and played for HC Třinec in the Czech Extraliga for three seasons, retiring after the 2008–09 season. Čechmánek represented the Czech national team at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics, earning a gold medal in 1998, and participated in the 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, and 2007 World Championships.
Achievement/ Honor
- Awarded Best Goaltender at the World Championships in 2000 (citation needed).
- Recognized in the All-Star Team at the World Championships in 2000 (citation needed).
- Participated in the National Hockey League All-Star Game in 2001 (citation needed).
- Named to the National Hockey League All-Star Second Team for the 2000–01 season (citation needed).
- Shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Martin Brodeur and teammate Robert Esche in the 2002–03 season.
Net Worth 2023
As of 2023, Roman Čechmanek’s estimated net worth stands at 10 million.
Roman Cechmanek’s Cause of Death
Former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Roman Cechmanek passed away at the age of 52 in his native Czechia, as announced by the team. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Cechmanek had a notable four-season career in the NHL, spending the first three with the Flyers from 2000 to 2003. During his time in Philadelphia, he earned a spot in the 2001 NHL All-Star Game and was twice honored with the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the team’s MVP.
The president of hockey operations, Keith Jones, expressed deep sorrow in a statement, highlighting Cechmanek’s impact on the team both on and off the ice. Despite being a late-round draft pick, Cechmanek made significant contributions during his three seasons with the Flyers. He played a key role in leading the team to three consecutive playoff appearances, two 100-point seasons, and an Atlantic Division title. He was also part of a remarkable goaltending tandem with Robert Esche, winning the NHL’s William M. Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals scored against during the regular season in 2002-03.
Jones remembered Cechmanek not just for his outstanding performance but also for his personality, unique style, and pride in his goaltending skills. The Flyers’ thoughts and prayers are with Cechmanek’s family during this challenging time. Cechmanek was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round of the 2000 NHL draft and had an impressive debut season, going 35-15-6 with a 2.01 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage, and 10 shutouts, earning him All-Star recognition.
As per the Flyers, Cechmanek, following his NHL career, went back to Czechia and took on the role of a youth hockey coach. He was divorced and is survived by two sons and one daughter.
