Pastrňák dominates Golden Hockey Stick poll for seventh time
Boston Bruins star forward, David Pastrňák, has won the Golden Hockey Stick award for the seventh time. The 56th edition of the traditional poll ceremony symbolically sealed the hockey year in which Czechia won the gold medal at the World Championships on home ground.
Pastrňák, 28, nicknamed “Pasta,” did not attend the event at Žofín in Prague because he is in the United States. The hockey star received 595 votes in a vote of representatives, which included the Czech Ice Hockey Federation’s sports department, national team coaches, top competition clubs, and selected journalists. He beat second-placed goaltender, Lukáš Dostál, who was there thanks to his performances at the World Championships, by 79 points. Martin Nečas was another six points behind.
“I think it was clear that David was going to win again. With the season he had. ... But the whole season should be judged and he (Pastrňák) dominated. Even with a team that didn't perform so well after David Krejci and Bergeron left. Still, he showed that he can score more than 100 points,” Tomáš Hertl told reporters. He added that Pastrňák is the deserved king of Czech hockey.
“We would all like to be a bit more competitive for him. … But when Pasta gets over 100 points, it's hard to beat him,” Hertl smiled.
The gala also awarded the best para-hockey player, which was goalie Martin Kudela; the best female hockey player, forward Denisa Křížová; and the best junior player, forward Jiří Kulich, the captain of the national team at the bronze medal World Under-20 Championship. The record holder is 12-time winner, Jaromir Jágr.
