Czech journeyman defender Ondřej Němec, a mainstay of both the Czech Extraliga and national teams, today confirmed his retirement from the sport, finishing his final pro season captaining VHK Vsetín of the Czech second division.

Němec would debut with Vsetín’s senior team in 2001, spending his first eight pro seasons between Vsetín and Karlovy Vary, winning an Extraliga title with Energie in 1999. Němec would spend his next six seasons in the KHL, splitting time between Severstal, HC Lev Praha, Mytishchi and CSKA Moscow, before returning to the Extraliga for good in 2016. Němec would spend five his final six seasons with Kometa Brno, capturing two more league titles in 2017 and 2018, before winding down his last season between Sparta Praha and Zlín, returning to Vsetín to bring his career full circle for his final season. In his combined 21 seasons between Czechia and Russia, Němec amassed 319 points in 1,012 career games, along with another 53 points in 140 career playoff games.

Němec debuted for the Narodnitym as part of the Under-17 squad in 2001, debuting at the World Juniors in 2004. He made his senior debut in 2008, joining Czechia for his first of six World Championship appearances in 2009, capturing three straight medals with Gold in 2010 and Bronze in 2011 and 2012. Němec also captured a Euro Hockey Tour title in 2012, and was part of Euro Hockey Challenge-winning teams in 2012 and 2015. Němec would make his lone Olympic appearance in 2018, debuting at the PyeongChang Games.

Němec captured the IHLC six times over the course of his career, winning first at the 2003 World Juniors, with his final title 15 years later on the Euro Hockey Tour. We wish Ondřej and his family the very best for his retirement and the things to come!

Photo Credit: TN – IIHF – HHOF – IOC