Jiří Dudáček
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| Position | Right Wing |
| Height Weight |
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Nationality |  Czechoslovakia |
| Born | April 4, 1962, Kladno, CS |
| NHL Draft | 17th overall, 1981 Buffalo Sabres |
| Pro Career | 1978 – 1991 |
Jiri Dudacek (born April 4, 1962, in Kladno, Czechoslovakia) is a former professional ice hockey right wing. He was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first Czechoslovak player to be selected in the first round of a National Hockey League draft. Dudacek was a star for the Czechoslovak team at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 1980 and 1981, and was considered by many NHL scouts to be the top junior prospect in the 1981 draft class.[1]
As Czechoslovakia was a Communist country at the time of Dudacek's drafting, bringing him to North America was a difficult proposition for the Sabre organization. Dudacek's father was also a high-ranking Communist party member.
While other teams helped Czechoslovak players sneak out of their homeland to come to the NHL, Sabres general manager Scotty Bowman attempted to convince Czechoslovak officials to legally allow Dudacek to come to Buffalo. All efforts were declined by the Czechoslovak sports authorities, though, claiming Dudacek was "too young" to leave the country.[2][3]
Dudacek played for the Czechoslovak national ice hockey team in the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cups. He was among Czechoslovakia's leading scorers in 1981, tallying four goals and two assists in six games.[4] In 1984, he went scoreless in four games.[5]
Dudacek never made it to North America to play for the Sabre organization. Instead, he spent his career playing for HC Kladno and HC Jihlava in the Czechoslovak Extraliga, until his retirement in 1991.
