The First from the East

Alexander Ovechkin owes him a big thank you. So do countrymen Marian Gaborik and Zdeno Chara. So do most of the "Eastern Bloc" superstars that dot teams across the NHL.

Because without him, the trail to the NHL for Eastern Europeans and Russians might not exist.

The man in question is Peter Stastny, a center for the Quebec Nordiques. He's arguably the greatest player to play for the franchise, and his addition to both the Hockey Hall-of-Fame and the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall-of-Fame was never in doubt. His greatest contribution, though, was what he did off the ice.


(And yes, he's in two Hall-of-Fames. He's that good)

It was Stastny, who in 1980, decided to defect from the Soviet Union. The reason was partially because of talent, since at that time Peter had been selected as the best player in the country. The other reason, though, was much more simple.

Stastny hated Communism. And even though the system rewarded him for his play, he felt that it was time to take his game across the Atlantic.

So, during an August night, Peter, younger brother Anton and Peter's pregnant wife all left for an NHL team. Peter ended up on the Quebec Nordiques with Anton, where both began their careers. However, it was Peter who won the Calder trophy, as the leagues top rookie, when he went on to score more than 100 points.


(This man fought Communism and won. You think a defenseman was going to stop him?)

It was just the beginning of an incredible career that saw Stastny become the first European-trained player to record more than 1000 points, play with both of his brothers on the same line(Marián, the oldest, left the next year) and score crucial goals against bitter rivals.



Oh, and no one except Wayne Gretzky had more points than him during the 80's. The same Wayne Gretzky who's number is retired in every NHL arena as a tribute to being the greatest hockey player ever.

But that's just part of his career. Stastny played for three separate countries, representing Czechoslovakia, Canada and Slovakia at three separate international tournaments. He also helped drag Slovakia into the A-level group at the World Championships after the team was relegated during the separation of Czechoslovakia. He was 39 when he led the team in scoring.


(The team hasn't fallen out of the A-pool since that tournament in 1995)

Stastny has distanced himself from the Slovakia program that he and his two brothers once competed for. Instead, he now is a member of the European Parliament for his homeland, with two sons who have played in the NHL. One, Yan, currently plays for CSKA Moscow in the KHL. The other, Paul, is a center for his dad's since-moved franchise, the Colorado Avalanche.

He wears the same number that his dad did.


(And when he leaves, it should be retired. At least till the next Stastny wants it)

So, the next time Alexander Ovechkin comes screaming off the wing, or Marian Gaborik tees one up so quickly that it’s in the net before the second hand strikes one, or Zdeno Chara slams another hopeless forward into the boards like a dead fish, remember Stastny.

Because without his daring escape, none of them might be playing on North American soil.