Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Michael Špaček (ice hockey)

Michael Špaček
Špaček with the Czech Republic (2023)
Born (1997-04-09) 9 April 1997 (age 27)
Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Right
ELH team
Former teams
Sparta Praha
HC Pardubice
Tappara
HC Oceláři Třinec
Frölunda HC
HC Ambrì-Piotta
Genève-Servette HC
National team  Czech Republic
NHL draft 108th overall, 2015
Winnipeg Jets
Playing career 2014–present

Michael Špaček (born 9 April 1997) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward. He currently plays with Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Špaček was born in Mariánské Lázně, Czech Republic, but grew up in Dašice.

Playing career

Špaček made his Czech Extraliga debut playing with HC Pardubice at age 17, during the 2013–14 season.[1] Špaček had played as a youth within the Pardubice organization since 2010. In his first full professional campaign with Pardubice in 2014–15, Špaček contributed 12 points in 40 games. Spacek was selected in the 4th round, 108th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[2] Špaček competed for the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, during the 2015–16 season.[3]

On 2 June 2017, after two seasons with Red Deer, Špaček completed his junior career by agreeing to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets.[4]

During the 2019–20 season, re-assigned to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL, Špaček appeared in 45 games posting 20 points assists before he was re-assigned by the Jets to join the Ontario Reign, primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, on loan for the remainder of the season on 2 March 2020.[5] Špaček failed to appear in a game with the Reign due to injury before the season was prematurely ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As an impending restricted free agent from the Jets, Špaček opted to halt his NHL aspirations by agreeing to a one-year contract in Finland with Tappara of the Liiga on 4 August 2020.[6] His rights were later relinquished by the Jets on 4 October 2020.[7] In the 2020–21 season, Špaček registered 5 goals and 13 points through 18 regular season games with Tappara before leaving the club to return to the Czech Republic in joining HC Oceláři Třinec of the ELH for the remainder of the season on 26 January 2021.[8] Špaček made an immediate impact with Třinec, collecting 14 points in 16 playoff games to help the club claim the Championship.

As a free agent, Špaček joined his third European club within the year, agreeing to a two-year contract with Swedish outfit Frölunda HC of the SHL on 3 May 2021.[9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice CZE U18 39 28 22 50 69 2 0 0 0 2
2013–14 HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice CZE U18 6 4 5 9 8
2013–14 HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice CZE U20 31 15 13 28 56
2013–14 HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice ELH 4 0 0 0 0
2014–15 HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice ELH 40 5 7 12 12 4 0 0 0 0
2014–15 HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice CZE U20 5 2 5 7 38
2014–15 HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice CZE U18 4 3 3 6 12
2015–16 Red Deer Rebels WHL 61 18 36 54 18 17 3 10 13 2
2016–17 Red Deer Rebels WHL 59 30 55 85 34 7 4 8 12 6
2016–17 Manitoba Moose AHL 4 0 1 1 8
2017–18 Manitoba Moose AHL 70 17 21 38 24 6 1 2 3 20
2018–19 Manitoba Moose AHL 74 10 31 41 32
2019–20 Manitoba Moose AHL 45 9 11 20 2
2020–21 Tappara Liiga 18 5 8 13 4
2020–21 HC Oceláři Třinec ELH 9 2 9 11 2 16 2 12 14 8
2021–22 Frölunda HC SHL 49 10 36 46 33 8 1 3 4 2
2022–23 HC Ambrì-Piotta NL 50 14 36 50 8
2023–24 HC Ambrì-Piotta NL 48 17 33 50 10 4 0 0 0 0
ELH totals 53 7 16 23 14 20 2 12 14 8
NL totals 98 31 69 100 18 4 0 0 0 0

International

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Czech Republic
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Finland
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2014 Finland
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2014 Czech Republic WJC18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 2 5 7 2
2015 Czech Republic WJC 6th 5 0 1 1 2
2015 Czech Republic WJC18 6th 5 1 4 5 0
2016 Czech Republic WJC 5th 5 2 3 5 0
2017 Czech Republic WJC 6th 5 1 2 3 2
2021 Czech Republic WC 7th 7 1 4 5 4
2022 Czech Republic OG 9th 2 1 0 1 0
2022 Czech Republic WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 10 1 0 1 0
2023 Czech Republic WC 8th 8 0 2 2 2
Junior totals 27 6 15 21 6
Senior totals 27 3 6 9 6

References

  1. ^ "HC Pardubice 2013–14 player statistics". eliteprospects.com. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  2. ^ "The Winnipeg Jets select Michael Spacek in the fourth round". Arctic Ice Hockey. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Memorial Cup hosts land Michael Spacek, chase Brandon Hickey". The Hockey News. 6 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Jets agree to terms with Michael Spacek". Winnipeg Jets. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Reign announce roster moves". Ontario Reign. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Michael Spacek joins Tappara" (in Finnish). Tappara. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Jets tender qualifying offers to six players". The Sports Network. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Steelmakers are strengthening with Spacek" (in Czech). HC Oceláři Třinec. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Spacek first in" (in Swedish). Frölunda HC. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.