Former Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings goaltender Roman Cechmanek, passed away at the age of 52 this past weekend, as confirmed by the Flyers. Cechmanek’s hockey career, characterized by a late start in the NHL, showcased remarkable achievements and contributions to both his teams and the Czech Republic’s international side.
While the cause of death remains unclear, all that is currently known by the public is that the former netminder was feeling ill on Saturday before being discovered by his son on Sunday.
In 2000, at the age of 29, Cechmanek was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers with the 171st overall pick. His inaugural NHL season in 2000-01 proved to be outstanding, going 35-15-6 with a .921 save percentage while recording 10 shutouts. This breakout performance led to him finishing fourth in Hart Trophy voting and as the runner-up for the Vezina Trophy.
Prior to making his mark in the NHL, Cechmanek had notable international success. Two years before his NHL debut, he was part of the Czech Republic squad that earned gold at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Although serving as Dominik Hasek’s backup throughout the tournament, Cechmanek’s presence contributed to the team’s victory. Hasek, his teammate and mentor, went on to win the Vezina Trophy in 2001, the same year Cechmanek finished as the runner-up.
Cechmanek’s impact in the NHL extended beyond his rookie season. In his second season with the Flyers, he maintained his high level of play, matching his save percentage from the previous campaign while posting a 24-13-6 record. The 2002-03 campaign proved to be another standout year for Cechmanek, as he recorded a 33-15-10 record and a .925 save percentage. His outstanding performance earned him the William M. Jennings Trophy, shared with teammate Robert Esche and New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur.
Internationally, Cechmanek continued to contribute to his home country’s success. He played a crucial role in the Czech Republic’s gold medal victories at the World Championships in 1999 and 2000.
Cechmanek’s hockey journey came full circle, as he began and concluded his career in what is now Czechia. He spent four seasons with Vsetin before venturing to North America, and his final four professional campaigns were divided between his homeland, Germany, and Sweden.
Photo: Kevin Burkett. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.