Aleš Hemský

Lore & Background

Hemský began his professional career at age 16 with HC Moeller Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga. Seeking better scouting opportunities, he moved to North America in 2000 to play for the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL, where he led all rookies in scoring with 36 goals and 100 points in 2000–01 and won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the league's top pro prospect. He was drafted 13th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2001.

Hemský spent the 2004–05 NHL lockout playing for HC Moeller Pardubice, helping the club win its first Czech Extraliga title in 16 years and earning playoff MVP honors. He returned to the Oilers for the 2005–06 season, setting career highs with 19 goals, 58 assists, and 77 points, and was a key contributor to Edmonton's run to the Stanley Cup Finals, which they lost in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes. He later signed a six-year, $24.6 million contract with the Oilers.

After being traded to the Ottawa Senators in March 2014, Hemský signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Dallas Stars as a free agent on 1 July 2014, joining former Senators linemate Jason Spezza and former Oilers teammate Shawn Horcoff. He later played for the Montreal Canadiens on a one-year contract before a severe concussion ended his season after seven games. He announced his retirement on 15 May 2020.

Reader's Guide

Hemský's NHL career spanned 15 seasons, with his most productive years coming with the Edmonton Oilers, where he led the team in scoring multiple times and recorded his first career hat trick in 2012. His 2005–06 playoff performance helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Finals, and he scored a memorable game-tying goal against the Dallas Stars in January 2007 after a notable turnover by Patrik Štefan. Internationally, Hemský won a bronze medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics and a gold medal at the 2005 IIHF World Championship, playing alongside Jaromír Jágr. He also represented the Czech Republic in inline hockey world championships. Off the ice, he participated in the Leucan Shaved Head Challenge in 2017, raising $33,000 for children battling cancer. His career was marked by recurring shoulder injuries and a concussion that ultimately ended his time with the Canadiens.

Did You Know?

• Hemský was the first selection of the Hull Olympiques in the 2000 CHL Import Draft.
• He scored his first NHL hat trick on 21 March 2012 against the Nashville Predators.
• He won the Czech Extraliga playoff MVP award in 2004–05.
• Hemský and his wife have two sons.