Karel Vejmelka

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Karel Vejmelka
Karel Vejmelka playing with the Coyotes in 2022 (Quintin Soloviev).jpg
Vejmelka with the Arizona Coyotes in 2022
Born (1996-05-25) 25 May 1996 (age 28)
Třebíč, Czech Republic
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Utah Hockey Club
HC Dynamo Pardubice
HC Kometa Brno
HC Dukla Jihlava
Arizona Coyotes
National teamFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
NHL draft 145th overall, 2015
Nashville Predators
Playing career 2014–present

Karel Vejmelka (born 25 May 1996) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for the Utah Hockey Club of the National Hockey League (NHL). Vejmelka, who started his career in the Czech Extraliga, was selected by the Nashville Predators in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 2015 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

Vejmelka made his Czech Extraliga (ELH) debut playing with HC Pardubice (later Dynamo Pardubice) during the 2014–15 Czech Extraliga season. [1] He was selected by the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the fifth round, 145th overall, of the 2015 NHL entry draft. [2]

During the 2015–16 season, after making just a solitary appearance for Dynamo, Vejmelka transferred his contract to fellow ELH club, HC Kometa Brno, on 28 November 2015. [3]

With a shortened loan to HC Dukla Jihlava, Vejmelka, un-signed by the Predators, played the next five seasons with HC Kometa Brno before he was signed as a free agent to a one-year entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL on 5 May 2021. [4]

In his debut North American season, Vejmelka earned a roster spot with the Coyotes to begin the 2021–22 season. He made his NHL debut with the Coyotes, stopping 32 of 33 shot attempts in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres on 17 October 2021. [5] With injury to initial starting goaltender Carter Hutton, Vejmelka assumed a larger role and established himself in the league. On 21 March 2022, the Coyotes signed Vejmelka to a three-year, $8.175 million contract extension that carries a $2.725 million cap hit. [6] Vejmelka holds the NHL record for the shortest time that a starting goaltender has spent on the ice before being pulled to the bench - 59 seconds against the Seattle Kraken on 6 November 2021. [7] [ failed verification ]

Shortly after the end of the 2023–24 regular season, the Coyotes' franchise was suspended and team assets were subsequently transferred to the expansion Utah Hockey Club; as a result, Vejmelka became a member of the Utah team. [8]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
Men's ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Czech Republic
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2022 Finland

Vejmelka represented Czechia at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a gold medal. [9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLOTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2013–14 HC Dynamo Pardubice Czech.20361620020538812.57.930————————
2014–15HC Dynamo PardubiceCzech.20372116022229422.54.928————————
2014–15 HC Dynamo Pardubice ELH 74304192002.86.9236333381713.02.916
2014–15 SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč Czech.1 3120176401.36.953————————
2015–16 HC Dynamo PardubiceELH101044101.36.933————————
2015–16 HC Kometa Brno ELH5230163411.47.941————————
2015–16 SK Horácká Slavia TřebíčCzech.14221210242510602.62.920————————
2016–17 HC Kometa BrnoELH311417017297232.50.905————————
2016–17 SK Horácká Slavia TřebíčCzech.1106405952312.32.929————————
2017–18 HC Kometa BrnoELH63303641121.81.937————————
2017–18 HC Dukla Jihlava ELH40402401002.50.901————————
2017–18 SK Horácká Slavia TřebíčCzech.1147708033122.32.908————————
2018–19 HC Kometa BrnoELH311714017627012.38.915————————
2018–19SK Horácká Slavia TřebíčCzech.1106406162112.05.925————————
2019–20 HC Kometa BrnoELH4322190241410932.71.911————————
2020–21 HC Kometa BrnoELH351421020209432.79.9118354511802.39.910
2021–22 Arizona Coyotes NHL 5213323277317013.68.898————————
2022–23 Arizona CoyotesNHL5018246294116833.43.900————————
2023–24 Arizona CoyotesNHL3813192204011213.29.897————————
ELH totals163778409,155391132.56.91314687893512.66.913
NHL totals1404475117,75445053.50.899————————

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2022 Czechia WC Bronze medal icon.svg8534131712.46.896
2023 CzechiaWC8th422236711.78.944
Senior totals12756492422.21.917

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References

  1. ↑ "Karel Vejmela signs senior contract with Pardubice" (in Czech). HC Dynamo Pardubice. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Mastey, Remy (5 September 2023). "Karel Vejmelka's Journey Into Professional Hockey". The Hockey News. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Brno welcome Karel Vejmelka from Pardubice" (in Czech). HC Kometa Brno. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Coyotes Karel Vejmelka signs one-year ELC". CBS Sports . 5 May 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Coyotes get first point of season in shootout loss to Sabres". arizonasports.com. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "Coyotes sign Vejmelka to three-year contract extension". Arizona Coyotes. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  7. ↑ "Coyotes finally find first win by rallying over Kraken, 5-4". ESPN . Associated Press.
  8. ↑ Ortiz, Jenna (17 April 2024). "Coyotes give fans a win in final Arizona game, fans show plenty of love". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Czechs strike gold on home ice". IIHF.com. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
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