photo: Czech Ice Hockey
Josef Horesovsky, a member of Czechoslovakia’s historic 1972 World Championship gold-medal team, died on 15 December after health complications. He was 79.
Horesovsky was a key defender on the national team at two Olympics and a total of five World Championships, and he was later inducted into the Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. He won a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics, when he was named IIHF Directorate Best Defender, and a bronze medal four years later in Sapporo. In five World Championships, he never failed to earn a medal, taking home a silver in 1971 and bronze in 1969, 1970, and 1973.
“His place in our club’s history is not only as an exceptional defenceman but also as a coach who led the team to two championships, in 1990 and 1993,” HC Sparta Praha posted on social media. “His determination, professionalism, and love for hockey left an indelible mark on the hearts of all Spartans. We express our sincere condolences to his entire family.”
Born in a Zilina, near Kladno in central Bohemia, Horesovsky learned to skate on a frozen pond and was discovered as a young teen by Vlastimil Sykora. In 1965, Horesovsky moved to Prague to complete his studies at the Faculty of Physical Education in Sport at Charles University, and that was when his career also started to take off at the club level with Sparta Praha.
A fine all-around defender, Horesovsky was paired on the blue line with Jiri Bubla for the better part of three crucial years in Czech international history. At the club level, his partner was often Frantisek Tikal. Horesovsky had it all. He was big and strong. He could skate and had a terrific shot. He could play in his own end and contribute to the offence.
Perhaps his biggest personal highlight was a four-goal game against East Germany at the 1968 Olympics, including three in the first period. He became only the fourth defender to score four in a game after Dunc Munro (CAN), Herd Drury (USA), and Miroslav Slama (TCH), and only the second after Munro to score a hat trick in a period at the Olympics.
The Czechs went on to win silver in heart-breaking fashion. Although they lost to Canada, 3-2, they also defeated the Soviets, 5-4, and on the final day the gold medal was in sight. If they beat Sweden, it would be theirs; a tie would mean silver, and a loss bronze (behind the Canadians). In the end, it was 2-2. One goal short.
Interestingly, Horesovsky also scored four goals for Sparta back in 1967, and to this day that remains the last time a blueliner scored four for the team.
Soon after the 1968 Olympics, coach Scotty Bowman tried to bring Horesovsky to the NHL with the expansion St. Louis Blues, but the Communist government refused to release the 19-year-old who represented the very future of the national team.
"We knew how good the Czechs were, but the problem was getting permission to leave," admitted Cliff Fletcher many years later to journalist Pavel Barta. In 1968, Fletcher was a scout working under Bowman, and he flew to Czechoslovakia in the hopes of signing Horesovsky, among others.
Nevertheless, Horesovsky did play NHL players on one occasion. At the end of the eight-game Summit Series, Team Canada travelled to Prague to play the Czech national team to celebrate Stan Mikita’s career. Horesovsky played in that 3-3 tie, and for at least one night he could say he played against the best Canada ever had to offer. He also played a game in 1974 against the WHA All-Stars.
Another big game in his career came in 1972. He scored two goals in a 12-2 win over the Swiss at that year’s World Championship when the Czechs famously tied the Soviets 3-3 in the first half of the double round robin and then solidified the gold medal with a 3-2 win in the penultimate game.
Over the years, Horesovsky dealt with several injuries, notably to his hips and back. Eventually, the wear and tear became too much to ignore, and in 1978 he retired after 15 years in the Czech league and seven major international events.
Eager to stay in the game, he turned to coaching. After two years with his club team, Sparta, 1980-82, he was then he was allowed to travel abroad, namely to Grenoble and Gap in France. When he returned in 1986, he had his greatest successes behind the bench. He coached Sparta for another eleven years, and the championship in 1990 was the team’s first in 36 years. He later coached a further decade in lower divisions, happy to impart his knowledge to young and developing players.
Horesovsky was a key defender on the national team at two Olympics and a total of five World Championships, and he was later inducted into the Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame. He won a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics, when he was named IIHF Directorate Best Defender, and a bronze medal four years later in Sapporo. In five World Championships, he never failed to earn a medal, taking home a silver in 1971 and bronze in 1969, 1970, and 1973.
“His place in our club’s history is not only as an exceptional defenceman but also as a coach who led the team to two championships, in 1990 and 1993,” HC Sparta Praha posted on social media. “His determination, professionalism, and love for hockey left an indelible mark on the hearts of all Spartans. We express our sincere condolences to his entire family.”
Born in a Zilina, near Kladno in central Bohemia, Horesovsky learned to skate on a frozen pond and was discovered as a young teen by Vlastimil Sykora. In 1965, Horesovsky moved to Prague to complete his studies at the Faculty of Physical Education in Sport at Charles University, and that was when his career also started to take off at the club level with Sparta Praha.
A fine all-around defender, Horesovsky was paired on the blue line with Jiri Bubla for the better part of three crucial years in Czech international history. At the club level, his partner was often Frantisek Tikal. Horesovsky had it all. He was big and strong. He could skate and had a terrific shot. He could play in his own end and contribute to the offence.
Perhaps his biggest personal highlight was a four-goal game against East Germany at the 1968 Olympics, including three in the first period. He became only the fourth defender to score four in a game after Dunc Munro (CAN), Herd Drury (USA), and Miroslav Slama (TCH), and only the second after Munro to score a hat trick in a period at the Olympics.
The Czechs went on to win silver in heart-breaking fashion. Although they lost to Canada, 3-2, they also defeated the Soviets, 5-4, and on the final day the gold medal was in sight. If they beat Sweden, it would be theirs; a tie would mean silver, and a loss bronze (behind the Canadians). In the end, it was 2-2. One goal short.
Interestingly, Horesovsky also scored four goals for Sparta back in 1967, and to this day that remains the last time a blueliner scored four for the team.
Soon after the 1968 Olympics, coach Scotty Bowman tried to bring Horesovsky to the NHL with the expansion St. Louis Blues, but the Communist government refused to release the 19-year-old who represented the very future of the national team.
"We knew how good the Czechs were, but the problem was getting permission to leave," admitted Cliff Fletcher many years later to journalist Pavel Barta. In 1968, Fletcher was a scout working under Bowman, and he flew to Czechoslovakia in the hopes of signing Horesovsky, among others.
Nevertheless, Horesovsky did play NHL players on one occasion. At the end of the eight-game Summit Series, Team Canada travelled to Prague to play the Czech national team to celebrate Stan Mikita’s career. Horesovsky played in that 3-3 tie, and for at least one night he could say he played against the best Canada ever had to offer. He also played a game in 1974 against the WHA All-Stars.
Another big game in his career came in 1972. He scored two goals in a 12-2 win over the Swiss at that year’s World Championship when the Czechs famously tied the Soviets 3-3 in the first half of the double round robin and then solidified the gold medal with a 3-2 win in the penultimate game.
Over the years, Horesovsky dealt with several injuries, notably to his hips and back. Eventually, the wear and tear became too much to ignore, and in 1978 he retired after 15 years in the Czech league and seven major international events.
Eager to stay in the game, he turned to coaching. After two years with his club team, Sparta, 1980-82, he was then he was allowed to travel abroad, namely to Grenoble and Gap in France. When he returned in 1986, he had his greatest successes behind the bench. He coached Sparta for another eleven years, and the championship in 1990 was the team’s first in 36 years. He later coached a further decade in lower divisions, happy to impart his knowledge to young and developing players.