Jaroslav Balaštík
A skilled Czech winger who carved out a respectable career at home before testing his talents in the NHL with Columbus.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Czech ice hockey player·Birthday: November 28·Generation X
Biography
Jaroslav Balaštík's hockey journey is a classic tale of European excellence finding its way across the Atlantic. He honed his craft in the tough Czech Extraliga, primarily with HC Zlín, where his speed and scoring touch made him a consistent offensive threat. His reliable performances and a championship pedigree—he won the Czech title with Zlín—caught the eye of NHL scouts. The Columbus Blue Jackets brought him over in 2005, where he provided depth and a glimpse of his slick hands. While his North American stint was brief, it was the culmination of years of development in Europe's top leagues. Returning to the Czech Republic, he resumed his role as a top-line winger, respected for his hockey intelligence and commitment, embodying the path of many European players who succeed at the highest levels abroad before returning as veterans.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jaroslav was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jaroslav Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jaroslav's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Czech Extraliga championship with HC Zlín in the 2003-04 season.
- Represented the Czech Republic in international play, including at the World Championships.
- Played 18 games in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2005-06 season.
- Was a consistent top scorer for HC Zlín over multiple seasons in the Czech league.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 6th round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
He scored his first and only NHL goal against the Chicago Blackhawks.
He played alongside fellow Czech and NHL veteran David Výborný both in Columbus and on the national team.
After his playing career, he moved into a managerial role within hockey.
“I worked my way up from the Czech league to earn my shot in the NHL.”
