Roman "Cecho" Cechmanek

Birthdate: 2 March 1971
Birthplace: Czech Republic
Height: 6'3
Weight: 200 lbs
Sweater Number: 32
Position: Goaltender
Drafted: Drafted by Flyers in the 6th round (171st overall), 2000
Marital Status: Married (Wife: Dagmar) with children (Roman and Katerina).

Career Notes

International: Recorded a 2.00 GAA in 480 minutes for the Czech Republic Team that won the 2000 World's Men's Ice Hockey Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was named to the Tournament Media All-Star First Team as the best goaltender. Member of the 1998 gold-medal winning Czech Republic Olympic Team. Named the best Czech goaltender six times (1995 through 2000). Member of five Czech Elite League championship teams (1995 through 1999) and three Czech world championship teams (1996,1999, and 2000).
1999-00: Recorded a 2.02 GAA in 46 games for Vsetin of the Czech Elite League. Was named to the Tournament Media All-Star First Team at the World's Men's Ice Hockey Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia
2000-01: Was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team. Was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL¹s best goaltender. Won the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the team's most valuable player and the Toyota Cup as the player with the most "Star of the Game" selections. Was second in the NHL in goals-against average (2.01) and in shutouts (10). Was tied for fourth in the NHL in save percentage at 92.1%. Allowed six goals on 20 shots in 20 minutes played as a member of the World Team for the 51st NHL All-Star Game (first appearance). Was the first "first-year" goaltender in Flyers history to record 10 shutouts in a season. Cechmanek's 10 shutouts are the most for a Flyers goaltender since Bernie Parent recorded 12 during the 1974-75 season. Was named First Star after stopping all 21 shots faced to record his 10th shutout of the season and the 1-0 win vs. Detroit on 3/31/01. Stopped all 15 shots faced to record the 3-0 win vs. Minnesota on 3/15/01. Recorded his first NHL point (assist) vs. Minnesota on 3/15/01. Dressed, but did not play at Montreal on 3/3/01, ending his streak of 11 consecutive games played. Was named First Star after stopping 31 of 32 shots vs. NY Rangers on 2/25/01. Was named First Star after stopping all 36 shots faced to record the 0-0 tie vs. Tampa Bay on 2/24/01. Was named NHL Player of the Week for Jan. 8 through 14 after posting a 3-0-0 record, 0.66 GAA and .973 save percentage. Won six straight starts (from 11/4/00 through 11/22/00). Recorded a shutout in two consecutive starts (11/4/00 & 11/9/00), which were also his first two NHL wins. Stopped all 28 shots faced in 2-0 win vs. Edmonton on 11/9/00. Stopped all 18 shots faced in 3-0 win vs. Buffalo on 11/4/00, his first NHL win and shutout. Became the oldest goaltender (29 years, seven months, 17 days) to make his first NHL start with the Flyers when he recorded a 3-3 tie and stopped 25 of 28 shots vs. Montreal on 10/19/00. Became the oldest goaltender (29 years, seven months, 15 days) to make his NHL debut with the Flyers when he stopped seven of eight shots in a no decision vs. Ottawa on 10/17/00 (Boucher started). Recalled from the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) on 10/17/00. Registered a 1-1-0 record and 1.12 GAA in three games for the Phantoms.

Profile

It's common hockey knowledge that goaltenders (in general) are a pretty wacky bunch. In fact, they're generally agreed to be rather, well, insane. Roman Cechmanek hasn't done anything to change anyone's mind on that matter, but there's a very successful method to his madness.

After many years as the best goaltender not playing in the NHL (3 Czech Elite League championships, 3 world championships), Roman Cechmanek decided in the summer of 2000 that he was interested in trying his luck in the best league in the world. The Flyers caught wind of his interest and gambled by drafting the then twenty-nine year-old goaltender. After some more convincing, he signed a contract and came over to North America.

In the 2000 training camp, however, the unexpected happened and junior goaltender Maxime Ouellet beat Cechmanek for the backup spot behind Brian Boucher. For a while, it seemed like Cechmanek would be traded at any moment. After a few games, however, Ouellet went back to junior and Cechmanek slipped into the backup slot. Boucher struggled; the Flyers struggled; Cechmanek shone. Winning his first NHL game against his more famous countryman and counterpart, Dominik Hasek, Cechmanek basically saved the Flyers' season. He kept the team afloat until Bill Barber took over. The team finally played up to its potential and Cechmanek seized the starting job permanently from Boucher. The "first-year" player (he's technically too old to be called a rookie) even went the all-star game.

Like Hasek, Cechmanek's style is pretty unorthodox. He's an aggressive player who loves to come out of his crease to break up a play. He's comfortable playing even after he's lost his stick. His size allows him a cover a lot of net and he flops all over the place. He'll stop a puck with anything he's got, from his feet to his head. (Yes, his head--he likes to do a soccer-style "header" with a puck. Trust me, you won't believe it until you've seen it.) Cechmanek's incredible season has him near the top of the list for Vezina consideration. He's already been named the Flyers MVP for the 2000-2001 season.

Cechmanek has a well-earned reputation as a big-game goalie in Europe. As the regular season draws to its end, we'll see if he can maintain that stellar reputation in the grind that's the NHL playoffs. For the sake of my fellow Flyer fans, I hope that Cecho does.

Roman "Cecho" Cechmanek

Career Notes

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