Vladimír Dzurilla

Although of Slovakian ethnicity, Vladimír Dzurilla is considered one of the greatest ever Czechoslovak goaltenders. His early career was with ŠK Slovan Bratislava, for which he played from 1959-73. He then moved to Brno, playing for TJ ZKL Brno and TJ Zetor Brno from 1973-78. Dzurilla finished his career in Germany, playing four years there, one with EV Augsberger, and three with SC Riessersee, retiring after the 1981-82 season. Dzurilla won the Toni Kehle Cup in 1980 and 1981, given to the top goalie in the Bundesliga. He never played in the NHL, but did play with the Czechoslovakian All-Stars that played a limited schedule in the 1977-78 World Hockey Association season. He also competed for Czechoslovakia at the 1976 Canada Cup, leading them to a runner-up finish, highlighted by his stopping 29 shots in winning a 1-0 shutout game over Canada.

Dzurilla was on three Olympic teams, winning a silver medal in 1968, and bronze medals in 1964 and 1972. He played at the World Championships in 1963, 1965-66, 1969, 1972, and 1976-1977, winning silver medals in 1965-66 and bronze medals in 1963 and 1969-70. He was named to the World Championship All-Star team in 1965 and 1969 and in 1965 was named the best goaltender of the tournament. He was elected to the International Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998. Dzurilla’s profession was originally as a refrigerator repairman, but he later went into coaching, mainly in the German league, serving as the head coach of SC Riessersee in 1987-88, Frankfurt in 1988-89, and EHC Straubing in 1992-93.