Vlastimil Kroupa
Encyclopedia
Vlastimil Kroupa is a Czech
professional ice hockey
defenceman
. Chosen in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
(#45 overall) by the San Jose Sharks
, Kroupa played in parts of 5 seasons with the San Jose Sharks
and New Jersey Devils
. A tall and skilled defenceman
, Kroupa was known for a puck-moving transitional style and a heavy point shot. However, he struggled with the longer NHL
season (in comparison to Europe), as well as the more rugged and tough physical aspects of the North American game. After several seasons in the late 1990s spent mostly in the AHL
refining his game, Kroupa elected to return to play in his native Czech Republic
before the start of the 2000–01 season.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
. Chosen in the second round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
1993 NHL Entry Draft
The 1993 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26, 1993, at the Colisee de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise specified.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
(#45 overall) by the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Kroupa played in parts of 5 seasons with the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. A tall and skilled defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
, Kroupa was known for a puck-moving transitional style and a heavy point shot. However, he struggled with the longer NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
season (in comparison to Europe), as well as the more rugged and tough physical aspects of the North American game. After several seasons in the late 1990s spent mostly in the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
refining his game, Kroupa elected to return to play in his native Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
before the start of the 2000–01 season.
Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1993–94 | San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
27 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 21 | ||
| 1994–95 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 1995–96 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 27 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 18 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1996–97 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 35 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1997–98 | New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NHL Totals | 105 | 4 | 19 | 23 | 66 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 25 | ||||