Jaroslav Hlinka

Jaroslav Hlinka (born November 10, 1976, in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward, currently playing for Linköpings HC in the Swedish elite league Elitserien.

Playing career
Hlinka began playing ice hockey at the age of four. When he was fourteen, HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga offered him a chance on their junior team and he accepted.

From 1994 to 2007, Hlinka mostly played for HC Sparta Praha in the Extraliga, scoring 110 goals and winning the Czech Championship four times (2000, 2002, 2006 and 2007). From 2002 to 2006 he played for three seasons with Kloten Flyers in the Swiss Nationalliga A and one season with Ak Bars Kazan in the now defunct Russian Super League.

On June 1, 2007, Hlinka signed a one year contract with the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL. On October 3, 2007, during the Avalanche season opener, he scored his first NHL point as part of a 2-assist game against the Dallas Stars. He scored his first NHL goal on October 23, 2007 against the Edmonton Oilers. In May 2008 he signed a two-year contract with Linköpings HC in the Swedish elite league Elitserien.

Hlinka has represented the Czech Republic seven times in the World Championships.

Awards and achievements

 * Czech Champion with HC Sparta Praha in 2000, 2002, 2006 and 2007.
 * Gold medal at the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2001.
 * Silver medal at the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2006.

International play
Hlinka played his first game in the national squad in 1999, and has played 107 times for the national team.

Hlinka has played for the Czech Republic in:


 * 2001 World Championships (gold medal)
 * 2002 World Championships
 * 2003 World Championships
 * 2004 World Championships
 * 2006 World Championships (silver medal)
 * 2007 World Championships
 * 2008 World Championships