Radek Martínek
A steady Czech defenseman who carved out a decade-long NHL career defined by reliability and a quiet, professional demeanor.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Ice hockey player·Birthday: August 31·Generation X
Biography
Radek Martínek's path to the NHL was a testament to steady development and defensive intelligence. Hailing from the Czech Republic, he honed his game at home before being drafted by the New York Islanders in 1999. He wasn't a flashy offensive defenseman; his value lay in his positional soundness, a calm first pass, and a willingness to block shots. For ten seasons, primarily with the Islanders, Martínek was a dependable presence on the blue line, often tasked with shutting down opposing top lines. His career was, unfortunately, punctuated by significant injuries that cost him entire seasons, a frustrating counterpoint to his evident skill. Despite these setbacks, he earned the respect of teammates and coaches for his work ethic and team-first approach, leaving a mark as a player who maximized his abilities through smart, consistent play.
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.
Radek 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 Radek Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Radek'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
- Played over 400 games in the NHL, the majority as a defensive defenseman for the New York Islanders.
- Represented the Czech Republic internationally at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and several IIHF World Championships.
- Won a bronze medal with the Czech national team at the 2006 IIHF World Championship.
Did You Know?
He missed the entire 2009-10 NHL season due to a torn ACL suffered in the first game of the year.
Before the NHL, he played for Ceske Budejovice in the Czech Extraliga.
He finished his professional playing career with a season back in the Czech Republic for Liberec.
“My game was always about being in the right place at the right time.”
