Tomas Vokoun
Tomas Vokoun
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Tomas Vokoun was a Slovakian professional ice hockey goaltender.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on July 2, 1976, in Kremnica, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). Passed away on August 9, 2017, after battling complications from bleeding in the brain.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Slovakian nationality; professional ice hockey goaltender.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in a small mining town in Slovakia, Vokoun developed his passion for hockey at an early age. He began playing hockey at a local club before moving to the Czechoslovakia national program. As he honed his skills, Tomas eventually joined HC Košice's youth team.
Major Accomplishments
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First-ever Slovakian player in NHL history: In 2000, Vokoun became the first Slovakian player to be drafted into the National Hockey League (NHL), marking a significant milestone for his country.
Stanley Cup winner: Tomas was a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning's team that won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
* Olympic competitor: Vokoun represented Slovakia at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Notable Works or Actions
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Throughout his career, Vokoun demonstrated exceptional work ethic and dedication to improving his game. He was known for his intense training regimens and commitment to staying healthy throughout his playing days. Tomas's passion for hockey inspired numerous young players from Slovakia and beyond.
Impact and Legacy
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Tomas Vokoun's contributions to Slovakian hockey helped pave the way for future generations of players from his country. His dedication, perseverance, and love for the sport set an excellent example for aspiring athletes worldwide.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Tomas Vokoun is widely remembered as a trailblazer in Slovakian hockey history. His remarkable career serves as an inspiration to those pursuing their passions, particularly in the realm of sports.
Quotes by Tomas Vokoun
Tomas Vokoun's insights on:
You've got to play with urgency and we aren't playing with urgency right now. That's why we're a step late everywhere. That's why teams are scoring on us. It's a long season and there are always ups and downs. We just have to get back somehow on the horse and whatever we need to do we need to do it.
You've got to protect the middle of the ice. The guys on the boards are not a concern. It's hard to win when you're making mistakes like that.
A goalkeeper has to be ready all the time. You take your rest because you just never know.
You can't stop 40 or 45 shots a night and expect to win. Detroit has five Hall of Fame players on the team. You can't give them 45 shots.
I didn't do very good. But our guys came through and scored a bunch of goals and that's why we won.
I don't know if it's the Red Wings. We've been giving up that many shots about the last three weeks. We're not playing well defensively. If you want to win, you have to start in your own zone. You can't give up 40, 45 shots every night. Especially in this league where you can't hold guys, you can't give up these kind of chances.
I play a lot in the NHL, and I'm tired. At some point you need a little rest. I've played almost 50 games. This would be six games in eight days, or something like that.
In a 2-2 game, there's no way their guy should be walking down the middle of the ice with 10 seconds to shoot, deke or do whatever. Breakdowns like that kill you.
In the past, if a guy comes up to the net, you can cross-check him and push him out of the way. Now you can't do anything. He just stands there. You have two of their guys there and two of our guys there and it's really hard to see the puck. That's the hardest part about the rule changes.
I play to win and that is about it. My job is to stop the puck. I can't control anything else.