Samuel Hlavaj

Samuel Hlavaj
Hlavaj with HC Škoda Plzeň in 2024
Born (2001-05-29) 29 May 2001 (age 23)
Martin, Slovakia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Minnesota Wild
Iowa Heartlanders (ECHL)
HC Slovan Bratislava
HC Škoda Plzeň
National team  Slovakia
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2021–present

Samuel Hlavaj (born May 29, 2001, in Martin, Slovakia) is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender for the Iowa Heartlanders in the ECHL as a prospect to the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hlavaj has played for his country in the IIHF World Championships of 2023 and 2024.

Playing career

Junior hockey

Hlavaj signed for Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2018–19 season.[1] The following season, 2019–20, Hlavaj played for Canadian side Sherbrooke Phoenix, during which time he won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy.

Professional

Back in Europe, he played for Slovak team HC Slovan Bratislava for two seasons, before joining Czech side HC Škoda Plzeň in May 2023, signing a two-year contract.[2]

On April 5, 2024, it was announced that the NHL's Minnesota Wild had signed Hlavaj to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2024–25 NHL season .[3]

International play

Hlavaj played for the Slovakia men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[1] Hlavaj started three games for Slovakia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship, and followed that up by playing five matches in the 2024 IIHF World Championship.

References

  1. ^ a b "Hlavaj poputuje do zámorskej USHL, dohodol sa s Lincoln Stars". sme.sk (in Slovak). 30 December 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Hokejová Plzeň podepsala nového brankáře, do klubu přichází Slovák Hlavaj" [Plzeň hockey signed a new goaltender, Slovak Hlavaj comes to the club]. idnes.cz (in Czech). 1 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Minnesota Wild Signs Goalie Samuel Hlavaj to Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com (Press release). 5 April 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
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