Jiří Smejkal
{{short description|Czech ice hockey forward (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Jiří Smejkal
| image =
| image_size = 230px
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|11|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 203
| position = Forward
| shoots = Left
| league = ELH
| team = HC Dynamo Pardubice
| prospect_team =
| prospect_league =
| former_teams = Medveščak Zagreb
Sparta Praha
Piráti Chomutov
Tappara
Lahti Pelicans
IK Oskarshamn
Ottawa Senators
| ntl_team = CZE
| draft = Undrafted
| career_start = 2016
| career_end =
}}
Jiří Smejkal (born 5 November 1996) is a Czech professional ice hockey forward for HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga. He has previously played in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators and in several European leagues.
Playing career
Smejkal started his career in the youth setup at ČEZ Motor České Budějovice. He was picked by Medveščak Zagreb of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in the 2013 KHL draft.{{cite web |last1=Kalinics |first1=Michael |title=Jít v šestnácti letech do KHL není reálné, ví Smejkal |url=https://ceskobudejovicky.denik.cz/hokej_region/jit-v-sestnacti-letech-do-khl-neni-realne-vi-smejkal-20130604.html |website=Českobudějovický deník |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619041258/https://ceskobudejovicky.denik.cz/hokej_region/jit-v-sestnacti-letech-do-khl-neni-realne-vi-smejkal-20130604.html |archive-date=19 June 2013|language=cs-CZ |date=4 June 2013}} In 2014, he headed over the Atlantic to hone his skills in the Western Hockey League (WHL), joining the Moose Jaw Warriors.{{Cite web|title=Smejkal Enjoying New Surroundings|url=https://chl.ca/whl-warriors/smejkal-enjoying-new-surroundings/|website=CHL.ca|access-date=15 July 2016}} In his first year with the Warriors, Smejkal made 72 WHL appearances, tallying 12 goals and 20 assists. He also started the 2015–16 season playing for the team but was traded to fellow WHL side Kamloops Blazers in January 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://cfjctoday.com/article/507502/blazers-acquire-smejkal-warriors|title=Blazers Acquire Smejkal from Warriors |website=cfjctoday.com|access-date=15 July 2016}}
On 15 July 2016, Smejkal signed with Medveščak Zagreb of the KHL.{{Cite web|url=http://www.medvescak.com/en/khl/krejcik-strenghtens-d-smejkal-joins-bears-attack-no2379|title=Krejcik {{as written|stren|ghtens [sic]}} D, Smejkal joins Bears' attack|website=www.medvescak.com|access-date=15 July 2016|date=15 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919092858/http://www.medvescak.com/en/khl/krejcik-strenghtens-d-smejkal-joins-bears-attack-no2379|archive-date=19 September 2016}} He left for Sparta Praha on 31 January 2017.{{cite web |title=Další posilou je talentovaný útočník Smejkal |url=https://www.hcsparta.cz/clanek.asp?id=Dalsi-posilou-je-talentovany-utocnik-Smejkal-11451 |website=hcsparta.cz |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216215209/https://www.hcsparta.cz/clanek.asp?id=Dalsi-posilou-je-talentovany-utocnik-Smejkal-11451 |archive-date=16 February 2017 |language=cs-CZ |url-status=usurped |date=31 January 2017}} On 27 December, Smejkal was loaned to Piráti Chomutov for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web |title=Výměna: Dvořák a Smejkal za gólmana Jána Laca |url=https://www.hcsparta.cz/clanek.asp?id=Vymena-Dvorak-a-Smejkal-za-golmana-Jana-Laca-12216 |website=hcsparta.cz |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112217/https://www.hcsparta.cz/clanek.asp?id=Vymena-Dvorak-a-Smejkal-za-golmana-Jana-Laca-12216 |archive-date=28 December 2017 |language=cs-CZ |url-status=usurped |date=27 December 2017}}
After the conclusion of Smejkal's contract with Sparta Praha, he moved to Finland and signed one-year contracts with Tappara in May 2020,{{cite web |title=Peltola palaa Tapparaan, joukkueeseen myös kaksi tšekkipelaajaa |url=https://www.tappara.fi/fi-fi/article/paauutinen/peltola-palaa-tapparaan-joukkueeseen-myos-kaksi-tsekkipelaajaa/3628/ |website=tappara.fi |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625033854/https://www.tappara.fi/fi-fi/article/paauutinen/peltola-palaa-tapparaan-joukkueeseen-myos-kaksi-tsekkipelaajaa/3628/ |archive-date=25 June 2020 |language=fi-FI |date=2 May 2020}} and then with Lahti Pelicans in July 2021.{{cite web |title=Jiří Smejkal Pelicansiin |url=https://pelicans.fi/fi-fi/article/uutinen/jii-smejkal-pelicansiin/4788/ |website=pelicans.fi |access-date=10 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805010303/https://pelicans.fi/fi-fi/article/uutinen/jii-smejkal-pelicansiin/4788/ |archive-date=5 August 2021 |language=fi-FI |date=15 July 2021}}
Smejkal spent the 2022–23 season with IK Oskarshamn of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He placed third in team scoring with 23 goals and 43 points in 49 games.{{cite web |url=https://bellevillesens.com/belleville-senators-issue-preseason-roster-update/ |title=Belleville Senators issue preseason roster update |publisher=Belleville Senators |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}}
As an undrafted free agent, Smejkal signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL) on 4 May 2023.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-sign-forward-jiri-smejkal-to-a-one-year-entry-level-contract/c-344171066 | title = Senators sign forward Jiri Smejkal to one-year, entry-level contract | publisher = Ottawa Senators | date = 4 May 2023 | access-date = 12 May 2023}} The signing came in response to the Senators' stated goal of bolstering its scoring and organizational depth ahead of a 2023–24 season in which they hoped to make the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2017. Described as a "prototypical power forward", it was hoped that Smejkal's combination of size and skill would help the team achieve that goal.{{cite web |last1=Reimer |first1=Dayton |title=Senators Get More Competitive with Jiri Smejkal |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/senators-more-competitive-jiri-smejkal/ |website=thehockeywriters.com |access-date=2 October 2023}} Smejkal was assigned to Ottawa's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Belleville Senators, to start the 2023–24 season. On 9 December, Smejkal made his NHL debut in a 5–1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.{{cite web |last1=Warne |first1=Steve |title="The Czech Hulk" to Make NHL Debut Saturday; Crookshank Dodges Injury Bullet |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/the-czech-hulk-to-make-nhl-debut-saturday-crookshank-dodges-injury-bullet |website=The Hockey News |access-date=10 December 2023 |date=9 December 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Gold |first1=Oliver |title=Debutant Smejkal probral střelce Kubalíka. Pastrňák řídil domácí výhru Bostonu |url=https://www.denik.cz/hokej/hokej-nhl-jiri-smejkal-premiera-otawa-kubalik-david-pastrnak-boston-vitezstvi.html |website=Deník.cz |access-date=10 December 2023 |language=cs-CZ |date=10 December 2023}} He played in two games with Ottawa before being returned to Belleville. He was recalled again, along with Angus Crookshank, on 16 December after injuries to Mathieu Joseph and Rourke Chartier.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/senators-recall-forwards-angus-crookshank-jiri-smejkal-from-ahl/ |title=Senators recall forwards Angus Crookshank, Jiri Smejkal from AHL |work=Sportsnet |date=16 December 2023 |access-date=17 April 2024}} On 22 December, Smejkal collected his first NHL point, assisting on Jacob Bernard-Docker's goal in a 6–4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.{{cite web |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/garrioch-game-2 |title=The Breakdown: The hurt won't stop as Senators lose sixth straight in Colorado |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |work=Ottawa Sun |date=22 December 2023 |access-date=17 April 2024}} He played in seven games before being sent back to Belleville on 7 January 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/senators-re-assign-forwards-angus-crookshank-jiri-smejkal-to-ahl-belleville/ |title=Senators re-assign forwards Angus Crookshank, Jiri Smejkal to AHL Belleville |work=Sportsnet |date=7 January 2024 |access-date=17 April 2024}} He was recalled again on 7 March.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/senators-jiri-smejkal-recalled-from-ahl-524733/ |title=Senators' Jiri Smejkal: Recalled from AHL |work=CBS Sports |date=7 March 2024 |access-date=17 April 2024}} However, his stay in the NHL was short, being returned to the AHL after Parker Kelly returned from suspension on 13 March.{{cite web |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/ottawa-senators/senators-winger-parker-kelly-ready-to-return-after-serving-two-game-ban |title=Senators winger Parker Kelly ready to return after serving two-game ban |work=Ottawa Sun |last=Garrioch |first=Bruce |date=13 March 2024 |access-date=17 April 2024}} Smejkal finished his AHL season on 4 April, recording nine goals and 22 points in 46 games with Belleville. He was recalled that day due to an injury to Crookshank{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/latest-news/with-angus-crookshank-out-indefinitely-ottawa-senators-call-up-a-forward-from-belleville |title=With Angus Crookshank Out Indefinitely, Ottawa Senators Call Up a Forward From Belleville |work=The Hockey News |last=Warne |first=Steve |date=4 April 2024 |access-date=17 April 2024}} and remained with Ottawa until the end of the season. In the final game of the season on 16 April, Smejkal recorded his first NHL goal against Linus Ullmark in 3–1 win over the Boston Bruins.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/smejkal-nets-first-goal-senators-upset-bruins-3-1-in-finale/article_700b97e5-3db7-5ec7-982d-4ed50f1cc13f.html |title=Smejkal nets first goal, Senators upset Bruins 3-1 in finale |agency=Associated Press |last=Alden |first=Doug |work=Toronto Star |date=16 April 2024 |access-date=17 April 2024}}
On 13 June 2024, Smejkal signed a five-year contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga.{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/jiri-smejkal-leaves-senators-signs-5-year-deal-in-pardubice |title=Jiří Smejkal leaves Senators; signs 5-year deal in Pardubice |work=The Hockey News |last=O'Brien |first=Derek |date=13 June 2024 |access-date=13 June 2024}}
International play
{{MedalTableTop|name=}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ih|CZE}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}
{{MedalBronze|2022 Finland|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Smejkal has represented Czech national teams on several occasions, including the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championships, where they won silver,{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldjunior2016.com/en/news/back-for-the-attack/|title=Back for the attack|date=29 December 2015|publisher=2016 World Junior Championship|access-date=16 July 2019}} and the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He played for the senior team at the 2021 IIHF World Championship, 2022 IIHF World Championship, where they won bronze medals, and 2023 IIHF World Championship. Smejkal also represented the Czech national team at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 2011–12
| CZE U18 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2012–13 | HC Mountfield | CZE U18 | 36 | 16 | 27 | 43 | 63
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| 2012–13
| HC Mountfield | CZE U20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2013–14 | ČEZ Motor České Budějovice | CZE U18 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 20
| 7 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 4 |
| 2013–14
| ČEZ Motor České Budějovice | CZE U20 | 28 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 12
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2014–15 | WHL | 72 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 50
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015–16
| Moose Jaw Warriors | WHL | 28 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 34
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2015–16 | WHL | 30 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 18
| 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2016–17
| KHL | 26 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016–17 | ELH | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017–18
| HC Sparta Praha | ELH | 26 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 16
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017–18 | ELH | 17 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 24
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19
| HC Sparta Praha | ELH | 47 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 20
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | HC Sparta Praha | ELH | 47 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 51
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21
| Tappara | Liiga | 48 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 28
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2021–22 | Liiga | 44 | 25 | 20 | 45 | 32
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 |
| 2022–23
| SHL | 49 | 23 | 20 | 43 | 30
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2023–24 | AHL | 47 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 16
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023–24
| NHL | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|ELH totals ! 146 !! 28 !! 36 !! 64 !! 111 ! 5 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 2 | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 20 !! 1 !! 1 !! 2 !! 4 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||
| 2014
| WJC18 | {{silver2}} | 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2016 | WJC | 5th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021
| WC | 7th | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022 | Czech Republic | OG | 9th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022
| Czech Republic | WC | {{bronze3}} | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2023 | Czech Republic | WC | 8th | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 11 !! 6 !! 2 !! 8 !! 0 | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Senior totals ! 30 !! 4 !! 5 !! 9 !! 4 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smejkal, Jiri}}
Category:Belleville Senators players
Category:Czech expatriate ice hockey players in Canada
Category:Czech ice hockey left wingers
Category:Ice hockey people from České Budějovice
Category:Ice hockey players at the 2022 Winter Olympics
Category:IK Oskarshamn players
Category:HC Sparta Praha players
Category:Kamloops Blazers players
Category:KHL Medveščak Zagreb players
Category:Lahti Pelicans players
Category:Moose Jaw Warriors players
Category:Olympic ice hockey players for the Czech Republic
Category:Ottawa Senators players
Category:Piráti Chomutov players