Marek Mazanec

Marek Mazanec (born on July 18, 1991 in Písek) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing for HK Hradec Králové of the Tipsport Extraliga. Mazanec was selected by the Nashville Predators in the 6th round (179th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Club career
Mazanec played in the junior age for IHC Písek, where at 14 he moved to HC Plzeň, where he continued his junior career. Mazanec made his senior debut in the 2009-10 season with HC Plzeň 1929 of the Tipsport Extraliga and with HC Klatovy of the 2. Liga.

In the 2010-11 season, Mazanec started to appear in the senior teams more frequently. He played 15 games for the HC Plzeň 1929 and also 7 games for IHC Písek of the 1. Liga.

Mazanec continued in Plzeň for another two seasons. In the 2011-12 season, he also played for HC Klatovy again and in the 2012-13 season, he played again for the IHC Písek.

On May 3, 2013, the Nashville Predators of the NHL signed Mazanec to a two-year entry-level contract. He began the 2013-14 season with the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.

On November 8, 2013, Mazanec made his NHL debut with the Nashville Predators, playing 51:37 and allowing two goals on 24 shots after replacing starter Carter Hutton in a game against the Winnipeg Jets. After 10 games with the Predators he posted a .932 save percentage and was named NHL Rookie of the month for November. In his first North American season, Mazanec played 25 games for the Predators with .902 save percentage and 31 games for the Admirals with .914 save percentage in the regular season plus another 3 games in the play-offs with .898 save percentage.

In the 2014-15 season, Mazanec played mostly for the Admirals. He played only 2 games for the Predators this season and in the next season, Mazanec did not play any game for them, he played only for the Admirals.

Mazanec returned to NHL in the 2016-17 season. He played 4 games for the Predators and 50 games for the Admirals.

For the beginning of the 2017-18 season, Mazanec returned to Europe to sign with HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL. He played 23 games for Slovan. In the middle of the season, Mazanec signed with the New York Rangers and moved back to North America to finish the season with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.

Mazanec began the 2018-19 season with the Wolf Pack and he played there 20 games. He also appeared in some Rangers' games, but just as the second goalie, so he never played a game for the Rangers. In the middle of the 2018-19 season, Mazanec was traded to Vancouver Canucks and was sent to the Utica Comets of the AHL. He played there another 10 games. Mazanec also appeared in some Canucks' games, but, just as with Rangers, only as the second goalie.

After the 2018-19 season, Mazanec returned to his native Czech Republic to sign with HK Hradec Králové of the Tipsport Extraliga for next two seasons.

International career
Mazanec participated as a member of the Czech National Team at the 2009 World U18 Championship and at the 2011 World Junior Championship.