Ivan Hlinka, one of the first Czechoslovakian players in the NHL and a former coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, died Monday from injuries sustained in a car accident in the Czech Republic. He was 54.
Hlinka was best known for coaching the Czech Republic team to two world championships and three Olympic medals in the 1990s, including the country's first gold in the 1998 Nagano Games.
Camp for his Czech Republic World Cup team was scheduled to open Wednesday.
Tampa in 6 --Theodore keeps it close... Toronto in 6 -- An absolute war, but once again Ed Belfour is the difference Detroit in 5 -- Calgary is too banged up from eliminating my Canucks (damn them!)