Roman Horak (b. 1991)

Roman Horak (born May 21, 1991) is a Czech ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played nine games in the Czech Extraliga with HC České Budějovice before coming to North America to play two Western Hockey League (WHL) seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the 5th round (127th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
Horak began his professional career with his hometown team HC České Budějovice of the Czech Extraliga, appearing in one game with the club in 2007–08 and eight more in 2008–09. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the 5th round, 127th overall, at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Additionally, Horak was selected by the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Chilliwack Bruins with the eighth overall pick in the Canadian Hockey League import draft. Though he had little knowledge of English, Horak moved to Canada to join the Bruins for the 2009–10 WHL season.

In his first season in Chilliwack, Horak scored 21 goals and 47 points. He improved to 26 goals and 78 points in 2010–11. Additionally, he represented the Czech Republic at the 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he had one goal and one assist in six games. He returned to the team for the 2011 tournament, recording one assist in five games in that tournament.

Horak signed a contract with the Rangers on May 6, 2011. However, before he played a game with the NHL team, he was traded to the Calgary Flames on June 1, along with two draft picks, in exchange for defenceman Tim Erixon. The Flames discovered Horak while scouting his teammate, and their own draft pick, Ryan Howse. The team realized that Howse, a 50-goal scorer in 2010–11 had become far less effective when Horak suffered an injury.

Initially expected to join the Flames' minor league affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League (AHL), to begin the 2011–12 season, Horak exceeded the team's expectations and earned a spot with the Flames. He made his NHL debut and scored his first point, an assist, against the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 8, 2011. He scored his first NHL goal on October 26 against against Jean-Sebastien Giguere of the Colorado Avalanche. He appeared in 25 games with the Flames before being sent to Abbotsford where the Flames' coaches expected him to get additional time in situations with which he was not playing in Calgary.