Jaroslav Bednář
A skilled Czech winger who became a dominant point producer in his home country's top league after a journey through North American hockey.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Czech ice hockey player·Birthday: November 8·Generation X
Biography
Jaroslav Bednář's hockey path was one of transatlantic persistence. After being drafted by the San Jose Sharks, the forward spent several seasons navigating the AHL and brief NHL call-ups, showcasing a clear offensive touch. He found his most profound success upon returning to Europe, specifically in the Czech Extraliga. With HC Slavia Praha, Bednář transformed into an offensive powerhouse, twice winning the league's scoring title and capturing a Czech championship in 2008. His consistent production and leadership made him a cornerstone for Slavia and a respected figure in Czech hockey, proving that a player's peak impact can come in the arena where he feels most at home.
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 1976, 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 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Jaroslav's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
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
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
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
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Czech Extraliga scoring title (Golden Puck) in the 2007–08 and 2010–11 seasons.
- Captured the Czech Extraliga championship with HC Slavia Praha in 2008.
- Represented the Czech Republic in multiple IIHF World Championships.
Did You Know?
He led the entire Czech Extraliga in playoff scoring during Slavia Praha's 2008 championship run.
Bednář recorded a six-point game (two goals, four assists) in the Extraliga in 2010.
His younger brother, Lukáš Bednář, was also a professional hockey player.
“You have to earn every shift, every game, because nothing is given to you in this sport.”
