Samuel Hlavaj

Last updated

Samuel Hlavaj
2024-02-17 HC Energie Karlovy Vary gegen HC Skoda Plzen (Extraliga, Hockey Outdoor Triple Klingenthal) by Sandro Halank-010.jpg
Hlavaj with HC Škoda Plzeň in 2024
Born (2001-05-29) 29 May 2001 (age 23)
Martin, Slovakia
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams
Minnesota Wild
Iowa Wild  (AHL)
HC Slovan Bratislava
HC Škoda Plzeň
National teamFlag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2017present

Samuel Hlavaj (born 29 May 2001, in Martin, Slovakia) is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender for the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hlavaj has played for his country in the IIHF World Championships of 2023 and 2024.

Contents

Playing career

Junior

Hlavaj signed for Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2018–19 season. [1] The following season, 2019–20, Hlavaj played for Canadian side Sherbrooke Phoenix, during which time he won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy. [2]

Professional

Back in Europe, he played for Slovak team HC Slovan Bratislava for two seasons, before joining Czech side HC Škoda Plzeň in May 2023, signing a two-year contract. [3]

On 5 April 2024, after completing his first season with Plzeň, Hlavaj enacted his NHL out clause after agreeing to terms with the Minnesota Wild on a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2024–25 NHL season. [4]

International play

Hlavaj played for the Slovakia men's national junior ice hockey team at the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. [1] Hlavaj started three games for Slovakia at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. At the 2024 IIHF World Championship he didn't play in Slovakia's opening game, [5] but made five appearances, including a 4–0 win against Poland in which he completed a shutout. [6] At the tournament Hlavaj wore a mask with an image of Juraj Jánošík on it. [5]

In August 2024 he was included in the Slovakia squad for the qualification tournament for the 2026 Winter Olympics, [7] in which he played, and resulted in Slovakia, as well as Denmark and Latvia, qualifying. [8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGPWLOTMINGA SO GAA SV% GPWLMINGASOGAASV%
2017–18 MHA Martin Slovak.2083504192203.15.917
2017–18 HK Orange 20 Slovak 100114208.67.714
2017–18HK Orange 20 Slovak.1 51312831703.61.877
2018–19 HK Orange 20Slovak40312122105.95.861
2018–19HK Orange 20Slovak.13201119211.01.957
2018–19 Lincoln Stars USHL 22318111789004.58.862
2019–20 Sherbrooke Phoenix QMJHL 39333222958632.25.915
2020–21 Sherbrooke PhoenixQMJHL20711211756213.17.8953031761505.10.857
2021–22 HC Slovan Bratislava Slovak95314761922.39.908
2021–22 HC Modré Krídla SlovanSlovak.1156729134923.22.9098354762102.65.920
2022–23 HC Slovan BratislavaSlovak1896310604512.55.91610158303.10.900
2022–23 HC Modré Krídla SlovanSlovak.164113702013.25.91311061302.96.923
2023–24 HC Plzeň ELH 28820015117803.10.903202118804.07.877
2024–25 Iowa Wild AHL 361414319589312.85.904
2024–25 Iowa Heartlanders ECHL 52212971503.02.885
ELH totals2882001,5117803.10.903202118804.07.877

International

YearTeamEventResultGPWLOTMINGASOGAASV%
2018 Slovakia U18 7th101058404.11.889
2019 Slovakia WJC 8th41201881203.83.872
2019 SlovakiaU1810th40402011504.49.894
2020 SlovakiaWJC8th51302011805.37.851
2021 SlovakiaWJC8th2020119804.03.889
2023 Slovakia WC 9th3030189702.22.932
2024 SlovakiaWC7th53203071312.54.925
2024 Slovakia OGQ Q3300180501.67.929
Junior totals1621207675704.46.886
Senior totals116506762512.22.929

References

  1. 1 2 "Hlavaj poputuje do zámorskej USHL, dohodol sa s Lincoln Stars". sme.sk (in Slovak). 30 December 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. "Slovenský brankár Hlavaj s Trofejou Jacquesa Plantea". teraz.sk (in Slovak). 28 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  3. "Hokejová Plzeň podepsala nového brankáře, do klubu přichází Slovák Hlavaj" [Plzeň hockey signed a new goaltender, Slovak Hlavaj comes to the club]. idnes.cz (in Czech). 1 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. "Minnesota Wild Signs Goalie Samuel Hlavaj to Entry-Level Contract". NHL.com (Press release). 5 April 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Hlavaj spomína na kazašské nájazdy: Šiel som na párky a utieral si z úst kečup aj horčicu". sme.sk (in Slovak). 11 May 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  6. "Hlavaj po výhře nad outsiderem: Cítil jsem se hůř než proti Americe" [Hlavaj after victory against outsider: I felt worse than against America]. idnes.cz (in Czech). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  7. "Slováci berou hráče z KHL. Šatan vyjel na novináře: Jsme apolitická instituce" [Slovaks take players from the KHL. Šatan attacks journalists: We are an apolitical institution]. idnes.cz (in Czech). 19 August 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  8. "Hokejisté Slovenska, Lotyšska a Dánska postoupili na ZOH 2026". Czech News Agency (in Czech). 1 September 2024. Retrieved 2 April 2025.