Jiří Dudáček

Jiří Dudáček (born April 4, 1962, in Kladno, Czechoslovakia) is a former professional ice hockey right wing. He was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, making him the first Czechoslovak player to be selected in the first round of a National Hockey League draft. Dudáček was a star for the Czechoslovak team at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 1980 and 1981, and was considered by many NHL scouts to be the top junior prospect in the 1981 draft class.1981 NHL Entry Draft - Jiri Dudacek
As Czechoslovakia was a Communist country at the time of Dudáček's drafting, bringing him to North America was a difficult proposition for the Sabre organization. Dudáček's father was also a high-ranking Communist party member.
While other teams helped Czechoslovak players sneak out of their homeland to come to the NHL, Sabres general manager Scotty Bowman attempted to convince Czechoslovak officials to legally allow Dudáček to come to Buffalo. All efforts were declined by the Czechoslovak sports authorities, though, claiming Dudáček was "too young" to leave the country.CNNSI.com - Hockey - Say It Ain't So: Buffalo Sabres - Thursday December 06, 2001 11:46 AM
==Playing career==
Dudáček played for the Czechoslovak national ice hockey team in the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cups. He was among Czechoslovakia's leading scorers in 1981, tallying four goals and two assists in six games.Hockey Hall of Fame - Pro Classics: Canada Cup 1981 Czechoslovakia Team Roster In 1984, he went scoreless in four games.Hockey Hall of Fame - Pro Classics: Canada Cup 1984 Czechoslovakia Team Roster
Dudáček never made it to North America to play for the Sabre organization. Instead, he spent his career playing for HC Kladno and HC Jihlava in the Czechoslovak Extraliga, until his retirement in 1991.
==Career statistics==
 --- Regular Season ---
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM
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1980-81 HC Kladno CZE 44 10 18 28
1981-82 - statistics unavailable -
1982-83 - statistics unavailable -
1983-84 - statistics unavailable -
1984-85 - statistics unavailable -
1985-86 - statistics unavailable -
1986-87 - statistics unavailable -
1987-88 HC Kladno CZE 39 23 28 51
1988-89 HC Kladno CZE 53 11 17 28
1989-90 - statistics unavailable -
1990-91 HC Kladno CZE 43 11 14 25
1994-95 ETC Crimmitschau Ger2 3 1 1 2
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==External links==
*
*Jiri Dudacek @ hockeydraftcentral.com
==References==
Category:Czechoslovak ice hockey players
Category:Czech ice hockey players
Category:Buffalo Sabres draft picks
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:Born in 1962
Category:HC Kladno players
Category:Dukla Jihlava players
Category:Retired in 1991