Ex-Penguins forward Martin Straka named Czech Republic assistant coach

Former Penguins forward Martin Straka has been named assistant coach of the Czech Republic’s national team for the next two years.

Straka, 47, was one of that country’s most accomplished players during his career. A member of the Czech Republic’s 1998 team that won gold during the Olympic tournament, Straka was a productive player during his 15-year NHL career.

A first-round pick (No. 19 overall) by the Penguins in 1992, Straka logged 954 career games and 717 points (257 goals, 460 assists) in the NHL.

In parts of 10 seasons with the Penguins, he appeared in 560 career games and scored 442 points (165 points, 277 assists), 11th-most in franchise history.

Perhaps his most notable moment with the Penguins came during the 2001 postseason. During Game 6 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Washington Capitals, Straka stole a puck from Capitals defenseman Sergei Gonchar and scored a series-clinching overtime goal that gave the Penguins a 4-3 win at the Mellon Arena:

Straka also spent time with the Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers during his NHL career.

His final season as an active player came in 2013-14 with his hometown HC Plzen team in the Czech Republic’s ELH league. Since 2009-10, he has been an owner and general manager of that team and became head coach in 2016-17.

Straka’s contract with the Czech national team allow him to coach in the 2021 and 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship tournament as well as the 2020 Olympic tournament in Beijing.

Another former Penguins forward, Petr Nedved, serves as general manager of the Czech national team.

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