Milan Hnilička (born June 25, 1973) is a Czech former professional ice hockey player and politician. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers and the Los Angeles Kings. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies since 2017, but resigned in January 2021, after attending a party in breach of coronavirus restrictions. He was drafted 70th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1991 NHL entry draft. In 2000, Hnilička won the Calder Cup while playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). He announced his retirement in August 2010. Internationally, Hnilička represented the Czechoslovak national junior team and the Czech national senior team at multiple tournaments.

Playing career

Hnilička played for Poldi SONP Kladno in the Czechoslovak Extraliga for several years. At the 1991 NHL entry draft he was selected 70th overall by the New York Islanders, and moved to North America in 1992, spending one season in major junior with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League (WHL), helping them reach the 1993 Memorial Cup. He then spent two seasons in the minor leagues before returning to the Czech Extraliga, where he played a further four seasons. Signed by the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1999, he made his NHL debut on October 14, 1999, against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played two games for the Rangers, spending the majority of the season with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, winning the Calder Cup with them as AHL champions. Signing as a free agent with the Atlanta Thrashers, he spent three easons with them, before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2003. Hnilička mainly played for the Kings' AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, appearing in two games for the Kings. He returned to the Czech Republic in 2004 and played five seasons with Bílí Tygři Liberec, as well as briefly playing for Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the Russian Superleague in the 2007–08 season. Hnilička's last games were during the 2009–10 season when he played three games for Slavia Praha. He holds the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets franchise record for saves in one game with 53 that he achieved on 18 December 2001, against the Boston Bruins.

International play

Hnilička played his first game for the Czechoslovak junior team in 1990 at the 1990 European Junior Championships, winning a bronze medal. He played again for the Czechoslovakian junior team at the 1991 World Junior Championships, again winning bronze. He was named to the Czechoslovak senior team for both the 1991 Canada Cup and 1991 World Championships, but did not play in either tournament. Hnilička's final tournament for Czechoslovakia was in the 1992 World Junior Championships, where the team finished fifth. With the dissolution of Czechoslovakia he began to represent the Czech national team, playing in seven World Championships and the 1998 and 2006 Winter Olympics (though he did not play in 1998). He won gold at the 1999, 2001, and 2005 World Championships, as well as a silver medal in 2006 and bronze in both 1997 and 1998.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International