Karel Vejmelka

Last updated

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 27)
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 NHL team
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 2014present
Medal record
Representing Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2022 Finland

Karel Vejmelka (born 25 May 1996) is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender for the Utah NHL team 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 in the fifth-round, 145th overall, by the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL) in 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]

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
2017–18SK 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

YearTeamEventResultGPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
2022 Czech Republic WC Bronze medal icon.svg84204131712.46.896
Senior totals84204131712.46.896


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Erat</span> Czech ice hockey player (born 1981)

Martin Erat is a Czech former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lukáš Kašpar</span> Czech ice hockey player (born 1985)

Lukáš Kašpar is a Czech former professional ice hockey player. He last played for HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomáš Malec</span> Slovak professional ice hockey player (born 1982)

Tomáš Malec is a Slovak former professional ice hockey player. He last played for HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petr Hubáček</span> Czech ice hockey player

Petr Hubáček is a former Czech professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL), Czech Extraliga, Swiss National League, Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and Finnish Liiga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Schaus</span> American professional ice hockey player (born 1986)

Nicholas Charles Schaus is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently playing for the Norfolk Admirals in the ECHL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dmitrij Jaškin</span> Czech ice hockey player (born 1993)

Dmitrij Alexejevič Jaškin is a Russian-born Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing with Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He played five seasons for the St Louis Blues and one season with the Washington Capitals and Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jaškin was selected first overall in the 2010 KHL Junior Draft by Sibir Novosibirsk, and was drafted by the Blues in the second round, 41st overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michal Kempný</span> Czech ice hockey player (born 1990)

Michal Kempný is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Kempný formerly played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Washington Capitals in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomáš Vincour</span> Czech professional ice hockey player (born 1990)

Tomáš Vincour is a Czech professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for HC Kometa Brno in the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He has previously played in the National Hockey League for the Dallas Stars, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and the Colorado Avalanche.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Czech Extraliga</span> Highest-level ice hockey league in the Czech Republic

The Czech Extraliga is the highest-level ice hockey league in the Czech Republic. It was created in 1993 following the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia midway through the 1992–93 Czechoslovak Extraliga season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marek Mazanec</span> Czech ice hockey player

Marek Mazanec is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Mountfield HK of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). Mazanec has previously played for the Nashville Predators, who selected him in the sixth round, 179th overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Roman Will is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with HC Dynamo Pardubice of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He has formerly appeared in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Colorado Avalanche.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomáš Vondráček</span> Czech ice hockey player

Tomáš Vondráček is a Czech professional ice hockey player. He currently plays with HC Karlovy Vary in the Czech Extraliga (ELH) on loan from HC Dynamo Pardubice.

Filip Pyrochta is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman for Luleå HF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He formerly played with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect under contract with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Marek Langhamer is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Ilves in the Finnish Liiga.

Václav Karabáček is a Czech professional ice hockey right wing who currently plays for Motor České Budějovice of the 1st Czech Republic Hockey League on loan from Mountfield HK of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He was drafted in the second round, 49th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Libor Hájek is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the second round, 37th overall, in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandre Mallet</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Alexandre Mallet is a Canadian professional ice hockey centreman. He is currently playing for HC Vítkovice Ridera of the Czech Extraliga (ELH).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrik Koch</span> Slovak ice hockey player

Patrik Koch is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenceman for the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Utah NHL team of the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radim Zohorna</span> Czech ice hockey player

Radim Zohorna is a Czech professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josef Kořenář</span> Czech ice hockey goaltender

Josef Kořenář is a Czech ice hockey goaltender for HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). An undrafted player, Kořenář previously played for the San Jose Sharks and the Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL).

References

  1. "Karel Vejmela signs senior contract with Pardubice". 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". www.espn.com.