Zdeno Chára
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Position | Defence |
| Shoots | right |
| Nickname | Big Z, Big Chara, The Beast, Lurch |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (123 kg) |
| NHL Team F. Teams |
Boston Bruins New York Islanders Ottawa Senators |
| Nationality |  Slovakia |
| Born | March 18, 1977, Trencin, CS |
| NHL Draft | 56th overall, 1996 New York Islanders |
| Pro Career | 1997 – present |
Zdeno Chára (born March 18, 1977) is an ice hockey defenceman playing for the Boston Bruins. At 6'10", he is the tallest player ever to play in the National Hockey League.
Chára was born in Trenčín, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). His father, Zdenek, was an Olympic wrestler. He was drafted 56th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. During the 2001 draft, he was traded to the Senators as part of a package-deal with Bill Muckalt and the second overall pick (used to draft Jason Spezza) in exchange for Alexei Yashin.
In 2003 Chára made his first appearance at the NHL All-Star game, and in the skills competition recorded the second hardest shot after Al MacInnis. He was voted on the first NHL All-Star team in 2004, and the second All-Star team in 2006. On January 13, 2007, Zdeno was named to the Eastern Conference roster in the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game In Dallas, Texas.
In 2004 Chára was the runner-up to Scott Niedermayer for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the best defenceman of the season.
Chára has represented Slovakia in five World Championships as well as in one World Cup.
Chára ended with the third highest +/- in the 2003-2004 season, only behind the Tampa Bay Lightning's Martin St. Louis and the Vancouver Canucks' Marek Malik, who were tied for first.
He had a career year in 2005-2006, posting personal bests in goals (16), points (43), and shots on goal (212).
On July 1, 2006, he signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Boston Bruins. On October 3, 2006, he was named captain of the Boston Bruins, a role left vacant since Joe Thornton's departure.
Besides playing for the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders of the NHL, Chára has played on numerous other teams throughout his career. These include HK Dukla Trenčín and HK VTJ Piestany of the Slovak Extraliga, one game with HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga, Prince George Cougars of the WHL, Kentucky Thoroughblades and Lowell Lock Monsters of the AHL, and most recently during the NHL lock-out of the 2004-05 season he has played for Färjestads BK of the Swedish Elitserien who made it to the finals only to lose to Frölunda HC.
He won the NHL's Hardest Shot Competition at the 2007 Skills Competition , clocking a shot at 100.4 mph (161.6 km/h) beating Sheldon Souray by 0.4 mph.
[Note: In addition to playing for HC Sparta Praha and HK Dukla Trenčín, he also played for both of their junior teams. A total of 39 games from the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons]
His name is pronounced [xa:ra] in Slovak.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Joe Thornton |
Boston Bruins captains 2006 – present |
Incumbent |
Categories: 1977 births | Boston Bruins players | Färjestads BK players | Hockey players at the 2006 Winter Olympics | Kentucky Thoroughblades players | Living people | Lowell Lock Monsters players | National Hockey League All-Stars | New York Islanders players | Olympic competitors for Slovakia | Ottawa Senators players | Prince George Cougars alumni | Slovak ice hockey players
