Jan Marek - and it's all about him. Hockey player Jan Marek: sports achievements and biography The early years of the athlete

All sorts of intrigues often woven around the figure of the Czech striker Jan Marek. But Yang ignored them. He is used to proving himself right in the case - on the ice. Jan loved hockey. And more than anything in the world he loved his wife Lucia, to whom he devoted all his victories ...

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Born December 31, 1979 in the Czechoslovak cityJindrichuv Hradec. I have been fond of hockey since childhood. At the junior level, he played for the hometown club Vaygar Hradec. At the age of 18, he played for the first time at an adult level, and a year later he tried on the sweater of the Ocelarzhi Trshinec club, making his debut in the main Czech championship. But he could not gain a foothold in the main team for a long time, only by the age of 23 he received a place at the base of Trinec. In the 2002-2003 season, he scored 72 points and scored 38 goals, becoming the best scorer in the Extraleague. In the off-season, he came to the attention of scouts from the North American New York Rangers club. However, despite a place in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Jan was selected in the 8th round, 243rd overall, and continued to play in the Czech Republic. In the 2003-2004 season, he moved to Sparta Prague, with which he took part in the Spengler Cup. In 2004, he signed a full-fledged contract with the Prague club and spent two more seasons there. Together with Sparta he became the champion of the country. While playing for the Czech national team, he was noticed by the leadership of the Russian club Metallurg from Magnitogorsk, and Marek moved to the Ural club. In the very first season for Metallurgists, he won the gold medal of the Russian championship, scoring the decisive goal in final match series against Kazan "Ak Bars". In the 2008-2009 season, he became a bronze medalist andbest sniperContinental Hockey League. Participated in the finalhockey league championsand the KHL All-Star Game in 2009. After an unsuccessful 2009-2010 season in Magnitogorsk, he decided to change the situation and moved to the capital of Russia, to CSKA Moscow, where he again demonstrated a high level of play. And although the "army team" did not get into the playoffs of the championship, the striker's name nevertheless flaunted in the top lines of the list of KHL scorers. On the eve of the closing of the transfer window, he moved to Atlant near Moscow, together with him reached the final of the Gagarin Cup and became the silver medalist of the championship. However, despite the success of the Yellow-Blues, he left the club near Moscow in the summer, signing a contract with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. Not bad was the fate of the striker in the international arena. As part of the Czech national team, the striker won the gold (2010) and bronze (2011) medals of the World Cup. In the Yaroslavl club, Jan Marek was supposed to play in a sweater with number 15. Under the same number 15, Marek also played for the Czech national team, which, after the death of the hockey player, forever kept this number for him.

Yaroslavl fans perceived the transition of forward Jan Marek before the new season to Lokomotiv ambiguously: the events of the last semi-final series of the Gagarin Cup against Atlant near Moscow were too fresh in their memory, one of the key persons of which, of course, was the Czech. Largely thanks to Marek, the Yellow-Blues then managed to derail the Railwaymen and reach the final stage of the draw. Therefore, the resentment towards Yan from Loko's loyal fans looked very justified. However, when the striker began to literally work miracles in the pre-season and helped the “railroad workers” win the tournament in Riga, the Yaroslavl team forgave Marek's previous insults and accepted him into our hockey brotherhood with open arms.

... A native of the small Czechoslovak town of Jindrichuv-Hradec, Jan in his childhood did not even think about a professional career as a hockey player. And the local team, where the boy played, did not reach the level of the main Czechoslovak league. Therefore, Jan failed to open up fully at a young age. And the fact that Marek was never involved in either the youth or youth teams of the country already says a lot.

For the first time, Jan felt a taste of adult hockey when he made his debut for the main team of his native team "Vajgar Hradec" in the 1st Hockey League of the Czech Republic. The debut of the young striker turned out to be so successful that he was immediately noticed by the coaches of other teams, one of which was Ocelarzhi Trshinec.

“When I was 18 years old, I signed my first professional contract with Trinec,” Jan later recalled. - A strong club that took second place in the national championship. For two whole seasons, I really could not gain a foothold in the squad. I could not stand the competition, and then I lacked self-confidence. Played only in the third year. He scored 44 points, and the next year - 72.

In the 2002-2003 season, Jan scored 38 goals against opponents and became the best scorer in the Extraleague. Despite some belated success, the striker was even invited to play in North America.

“At 23, I was selected by the Rangers in the NHL Rookie Draft,” Ian said, “in the last round with the 243rd number. Although I could not even imagine that someday they would pay attention to me in North America! Thought it was old. But the agent called with the news. I was very surprised...

Nevertheless, Marek then did not dare to go to the North American league, deciding to gain experience in his homeland. And later, the striker did not regret it - he was invited to one of the strongest teams in the Czech championship, the Prague Sparta, who wanted to strengthen themselves at the expense of a young and daring striker. In the Prague club, Marek was again successful: in three seasons at Sparta, he scored 158 points, and in the 2005-2006 season he became the champion of the Czech Republic in her HC.

Jan fell in love with Prague itself. It was here that he subsequently moved to live with his family, preferring the quiet and cozy streets of Jindrichuv Hradec to the crowded streets of the capital.

“My hometown, of course, is small, but very beautiful,” Marek explained. – Together with my wife Lucija we live in Prague and whenever possible we come to Jindrichuv Hradec, where our parents live. In Prague, I spent several seasons when I signed a contract with Sparta. She also really liked it, there are places to go: many restaurants, cinemas. Passes many sports competitions football, tennis. Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, so there is always something to do there. However, it is also the most expensive city in the Czech Republic. But Lucie and I don't complain. Although at first they could not get used to it for a long time. After all, we are from a small town where there are almost no traffic jams, and in Prague there are a lot of them. But six months later we got used to it, and Lucie and I really like Prague.”

That championship season was Jan's last in the Czech Republic. Having successfully performed at the Euro Hockey Tour for the national team, the forward attracted the attention of many agents from Russian clubs. And in Russia, the hockey player was offered conditions that hardly anyone could refuse. Most of all, Yan liked the offer of Metallurg Magnitogorsk, and without much hesitation, he set off to discover new horizons for himself.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen next,” Yang later said. - I thought I came for one season. I was a little afraid, I had never been to Russia, I only played in Moscow for the Czech national team. Didn't know what to expect from Russian hockey. I didn't make big plans. But I started well, I liked it, including living in Magnitogorsk and playing for Metallurg with good masters. They played with Yaroslav Kudrna, Zhenya Varlamov, Vitaly Atyushov for four years. We showed good results."

Yang was modest. In Magnitogorsk, he became not only one of the leading players in the team, but also the main ringleader. Together with his fellow countryman Yaroslav Kudrna, Marek founded a tradition that is unique in every sense Russian hockey players- to arrange real theatrical performances after each victorious match of the "metallurgists" on their native ice, which the people called the Czech show. At first it was the usual applause, with which Jan and Yaroslav wanted to attract the attention of the fans and thank them for their support. But gradually it grew into real acrobatic and costume sketches. The Czechs, who were later joined by other members of the team, took to the ice in the form of wild rockers, knights, pirates ... The audience was delighted with the Czech show!

In Magnitogorsk, Jan delighted the fans with his amazing game. What is worth only one of his "golden" goal in the final of the playoffs against the Kazan "Ak Bars" in the season 2006-2007, thanks to which the "metallurgists" won the title of champions of the country!

After four seasons spent at Metallurg, in 2010, when he was completely tormented by injuries, Jan decided to change the situation and left the Ural club. Some fans tried to tarnish the name of the hockey player by spreading a rumor that Marek allegedly had a conflict with the coaching staff and teammates in Magnitogorsk. Yang never managed to dispel these gossip, although he tried very hard. The hockey player tried to forget about the scandal, giving all his strength in the game for the new team - CSKA.

Frankly speaking, Yan's partners in this club were much weaker than in Magnitogorsk. However, even in such a difficult situation, the Czech striker showed the highest class of the game in matches. Throughout the regular stage of the championship, the name of Marek flaunted in the top lines of the list of KHL scorers. When it became clear that the “army team” would not be able to get into the playoffs, many of the leading clubs in the league began to fight for the “driving” forward. Jan chose, according to experts, not the best option - he moved to Atlant near Moscow.

However, it soon became clear that thanks to a compatriot, coach Milos Rzhiga, who put the striker in the Czech trio with Jan Bulis and Zbynek Irgl, Jan had a great chance to win another medal in Russia. And so it happened: Atlant reached the final, leaving Severstal Cherepovets, SKA St. Petersburg and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl out of the Gagarin Cup, and Marek became the team's second scorer after Sergei Mozyakin.

“Someone in the league scolded Marek allegedly for his ruffy character,” recalls Konstantin Barulin, a former teammate of the Czech goalkeeper of Atlanta near Moscow. - But when Jan joined our team, he quickly joined the team, as if he was always with us. But Marek ended up in Atlanta during the championship. To be honest, I'm glad I got to know Jan. He was neither an arrogant nor an aggressor, as he was sometimes portrayed in some media. In life, he was a calm, self-confident person without any aplomb. Although on ice, yes, it started. But what is hockey without emotions?

- It seemed to me that Ian had no friends in Atlanta. Yes, there were comrades, but no more, - says Atlant forward Alexei Glukhov. “However, the team accepted him. And Jan paid back with a silver coin - he helped us out in the playoffs more than once, played enchanting matches. Marek found his second birth on the ice after Rzhiga united the Czechs in one trio: two Jans - Marek and Bulis - and Zbynek Irgl.

Despite the hockey player’s great desire to remain in the yellow-blue system, Jan nevertheless received no proposal from the club’s management to extend the contract. The striker had many options to continue playing career, but he chose the Yaroslavl Lokomotiv, which included his compatriots: Rachunek, Vasichek, Demitra. However, the mentor of the "railroad" Brad McCrimmon identified the striker not at all in conjunction with his fellow countrymen. Marek spent most of the off-season playing side by side with Alexander Vasyunov and Andrey Kiryukhin. The three of the attack turned out to be so combative that they set the tone for the game for all other links, and Jan became a real lifesaver for the team, scoring and handing out excellent passes to partners. Largely thanks to Jan, the “railwaymen” managed to win their last tournament for the Latvian Railways Cup.

However, victories new team at that moment, the hockey player was not as happy as usual. The fact is that in the summer, the long-awaited first-born, named after his father, was born to Jan in the Czech Republic. The newly-made dad wanted to be closer to his son and to his wife, who could not come to Russia with a small child. Therefore, in August, he even negotiated with the club's management to terminate the contract. But the leadership of Loko persuaded Jan to stay ...

“Jan called and said that he wanted to leave the club,” recalls Marek’s agent Robert Shpalenka. - He wanted to go to Switzerland, but the leadership did not let him go. Persuaded to stay.

– Yang was looking forward to the appearance of his son. He often showed me a 3D ultrasound video of an unborn child on my phone,” says the attacker. hockey club"Atlant" Dmitry Upper.

Marek was very kind to his wife Lucia and devoted all his victories only to her.

“As a child, Lucie and I lived in neighboring apartments,” he said. - But, imagine, they did not know each other. Played football in the yard. Lucy went out to the balcony. I saw it, I asked the guys: “Let me pass faster!” And he began to trick, pretending to be Maradona. But she didn't notice me then. And we met only when I was already 18 years old. I had just returned home after the season and ran into her on the street. Gathered his courage and invited her to a disco. The second time we went to the cinema. We started to call. And a month later they were together.

Life away from home was the biggest challenge for Jan. He was always drawn to his homeland. He was a true patriot of his country and in cuisine, cars, music he always chose his own. The hockey player was even called the right Czech for his preferences. After the tragic death of Jan Marek became a national hero of the Czech Republic ...

I never made friends among hockey players. There are those whom I know, who know me, for whose sports success I am worried. I set up torrents for someone, someone said hello to me, having left for another team, and I even went to visit one mediocre Canadian goalkeeper, but did not get there. I think all this applies to friends, but not to Friends.

When CSKA signed Jan Marek, I was seriously upset. I knew little about him, and his hockey achievements were blocked by a trail of scandalous stories that stretched from Magnitogorsk. Somewhere I had a fight with someone, I was in conflict with someone - probably, no one wants such guys in their team.

Strangers should be treated with caution, but Marek turned out to be a good guy at the first meeting. He helped Časlava and Pilarž to get equipment, talked to the servicemen on “you”. We are recording an interview for the club site, I ask you to say to the camera "CSKA will always be the first." takes the initiative and transforms it into something like "Always be ahead in the Moscow region." Good guy. Let's get acquainted.

Problems started right away - injury, terrible start of the whole team. There was a special demand from Marek as a leader, and he somehow uncharacteristically for a hockey player took everything to heart.

Suddenly I felt very ashamed in front of him. For making it all work out. For an audience of 500 people at home matches. I experienced similar feelings after Shupler's resignation. I didn't fire him, but it's very inconvenient. In a losing streak, I found a few seconds after some game to find some simple words of encouragement for Marek. Well, you know, "play your hockey, try hard, luck will come." Like in those American movies where the school team of losers suddenly transforms and wins the state championship. For Jan, these words suddenly turned out to be important, and he himself shared his experiences with me. He said that for such money you need to get into an empty net. That he was tired of not being able to complete the game task. It seems that he was seriously upset by his transition. In the end, he once said that it was not he who made a mistake with the team, but CSKA made a mistake with him.

And then there was the story from the interview " Soviet sport» about the level of Jan Stastny's game. With the whole team, then Marek refused to speak, and Shtastny shook his hand, but the sediment remained. Suddenly, we found out that the leaders of CSKA decided to leave Marek in reserve for the match with Spartak on Khodynka as a punishment. We decided to go up to Nemchinov and tell him everything that Ian was talking about. As a result, Sergei Lvovich again summoned him to an audience on the day of the derby, but instead of a game task, he simply talked heart to heart and presented a bottle of wine from Igor Larionov. And in the second minute of the meeting, Marek took the puck from the Spartak player and gave a jeweler assist to the same Stastny, whom he squeezed in his arms in a couple of seconds in a way that players from the Czech Second League do not squeeze.

Do you think this is a story with a happy ending? No, we lost again without will. In life, there is little place for a fairy tale.

But behind the black stripe, there should still be a white one. A series of defeats gave way to a series of victories, the most valuable of which was over Dynamo Moscow. Cord tells the truth: “People don’t like other people’s failures,” but everyone wants to be involved in victory. After such a victory, I did not have the opportunity to approach Marek. He just scored the decisive goal, with which Fetisov congratulated him. Yes, and there was no such desire - I'm not a psychologist and not his agent, I just found a couple of words of support. I was standing quietly somewhere in the corner of a huge army locker room when I was gently pushed in the side and known to anyone hockey fan they said in Russian with a Czech dialect: “This day does not mean anything. Thank you for those days, friend.

You've probably already followed storyline and realized that the miracle and magical transformation of the team did not happen. That's right, we were far from the playoffs all the way and right before the deadline we had a leaderboard sell-off. Marek went to Mytishchi.

In the first matches, something worked out for him, and then everything became somehow sad. They wrote about the injury, but he simply did not qualify for the squad in terms of sports performance. Imperceptibly played 4 games with Severstal, on March 8 I played 10 minutes with SKA, for which I managed to earn “minus 3”. And soon the score in the series SKA - Atlant became 3:1, and, in general, it was all over.

I was tempted to call or write a couple of warm words, but I did not overestimate my role in Marek's life and decided not to touch him during the playoffs. On March 16, I almost choked at dinner with surprise: Marek called me himself.

Hi Hi. My wife is defending her diploma in Prague, studying to be a journalist. She was told that since her husband plays for the Red Army, then let her write a diploma about his history, about matches with the LTC, about Tarasov. Nothing found on the Internet. Will you help?

I myself imagined the volume of texts about the history of CSKA on the Internet and undertook to help. But that was not the point. I told him my favorite story, which has always helped me find inner reserves and believe in myself:

Sasha Suglobov ended up in CSKA in the 2007/2008 season, when the squad was stronger than ever. It was difficult for him to prove himself, he was after a serious injury and played in the 4th link, and they were already looking for a replacement for him next year - as far as I remember, they had to exchange him at Severstal for the current player of Magnitogorsk. CSKA advanced to the playoffs from 3rd place, but ended up with Ak Bars. I remember the first match with a score of 0:6, morally killed by Petya Schastlivy and a meeting with Sergey Kushchenko late at night. CSKA entered the second match as last Stand– especially since it could very well be the last home fight of the season. By the middle of the second period, we were losing 1:5, Kasutin missed from the first throw, and Bykov began to shuffle the links. Suglobov was in the first team, and then ... And then hockey happened, which I have never seen again in my life. The beaten CSKA returned to the game with the experienced Ak Bars, and Suglobov equalized the score in the minority, who scored a hat-trick! Rosneft promises to demolish LDS CSKA and build new stadium, but at that moment, I thought he would naturally collapse from what was happening in the stands. This match changed Suglobov's military career. He spent 3 more seasons in CSKA, became a favorite of the public, and no one asked in the stands “Why do we keep this meat?” That match, by the way, lost, 5:6.

To be a champion, you need to plow every shift of every match, - I said to Marek, - but even one match can change everything. First of all, how you treat yourself.

We said goodbye, and at 18:50, 10 minutes before the start of the match, I suddenly received a text message: “Now I understand what you said. Thank you. I went to my match."

In that game, SKA quickly took the lead. And then Marek equalized. He spent the most time on the ice, and Atlant won. In the sixth game, the Atlanteans won 2-1 at home - both goals were scored by Marek. In Game 7, of course, he was on the ice the second the Mytishchi knocked St. Petersburg out of the playoffs.

Then there was a series with Lokomotiv, in which the link Marek - Bulis - Irgl already sparkled with might and main. And then there was the final with Salavat Yulaev, where Marek was generally the main player of his team and eventually became its top scorer in this series. He is in the fifth

equalized the match in Ufa because he knew that one match decides everything.

We warmly communicated all this time, I personally supported him, although in the same series with Lokomotiv I was rooting for Yaroslavl. Finally, I finished my diploma, and Jan was the season, and we met again.

We stood on the porch of the LDS CSKA and squinted from the April sun. It was still fresh, but we were both light. Marek said that he would hardly remain in Atlanta, that he would like to play for Sparta, and he praised the young army hockey players, who won the Kharlamov Cup a week later. Finally, he asked how much my services cost. I refused money.

I did what I love myself and what was interesting to myself. How can I get money for this? And then, let you have at least something good to remember about the season at this club.

He suddenly turned away and began to look directly at the blinding sun. I then understood what he was thinking. He thought about his wife Lucia, whom he fell in love with in the first grade of school, and confessed this only in the 11th. I thought that even today you can bring good news to a person just like that, without spiritual and material investments, simply because someone wishes you well.

All my family in front of you now has dluh, Vladimir. It's like a debt, but different. I don't know how it would be in Russian. Just know that we are always there. When you are in Prague, be sure to visit, - said Marek and retired to the exit of the sports complex, where puddles in the sun became like golden rivers.

I was not going to Prague, but I immediately felt that I would go there. As well as the fact that I have a friend whose existence I did not believe all this time.

Life is not cinema or theater. Bad news does not catch us in the center of the stage in the beams of spotlights, disturbing music does not play, and even the screen does not go black after them. I found out about the Lokomotiv disaster in fast food - I got a call from an always calm close friend who almost sobbed. I ran to work, and I don’t want to remember the next day, but I will always remember.

This year we have quite a problem - there is no snow, the tourists are disappointed. For a long time this has not happened in the Czech Republic, - a customs officer at the Prague airport complained to me.

I was calm - tomorrow New Year, but in a couple of days a very difficult trip awaits me in every sense.

To Jindrichuv Hradec, one had to travel from Prague by two trains – national and regional. From the window of the first one one could see neat villages and ancient small settlements with chapels, as well as manicured fields and forests; there was even a tree growing farm. The sun was shining brightly, people at the stations were smiling.

The regional train had only 40 seats, and some of its stations were right in the middle of a white field. Outside the window were abandoned villages, swamps and rickety forests. The sky was filled with leaden clouds. Jindrichuv was his last destination. At the station, I was met by a Good Night, White Pride sticker, where for some reason the silhouette in felt boots and earflaps suffered. Once I was in the city of Staiti in southern Italy. Its population is 335 people, and I thought: here it is, the edge of the universe. Now I began to doubt. At the suggestion to speak in English, German and Russian, passers-by quickened their pace. At the station somehow we were able to call a taxi. The driver was young and energetic, but foreign languages knew only Slovak. I had to take the trouble to explain where I should be taken, because the Czech “hrzhbitov” is not at all like the Russian “cemetery”.

There was no one at the cemetery - neither the administration, nor the watchman, nor visitors. I miraculously stumbled upon two hard workers who were repairing something, who knew a couple of words in German and decided to take me to the grave of Jan Marek. I saw a photo in "ru_hockey" with a cross standing apart from everyone else, but I had to see something else.

His grave was right on the edge of the road, under a tree. A modest cross, club and flowers. Candles were burning - December 31 would have been Marek's birthday, apparently, locals came to visit him. A squally wind was blowing, a terrible rain was pouring down, turning all the paths of the cemetery into mud rivers. Something trembled inside me when I first saw the cross. It was as if I saw an old acquaintance and wanted to tell him a lot. I did what I wanted and had to do. I came to him. We didn't say goodbye, we saw each other.

I got wet to the skin. The clouds parted, and in the blue January sky, as if teasingly, the sun shone. We hurried to the station, far ahead could be seen the historical part of the gloomy city with tiled roofs. When I was getting on the train, I saw passers-by taking pictures of a plane flying high in the sky. Still, because planes never fly here.

Our fate is to spend a lot of time on trifles, to go astray a thousand times and go into the wrong steppe. Despite such a difficult situation, let's be a little more attentive to others. Among them, there are probably your old and new friends who will brighten up the rest of the little things in life.

Jan Marek is a professional Czech hockey player who tragically died in Yaroslavl. This player will forever remain in the hearts of Russian and Czech fans. He has come a long way from a beginner to a star of Russian and Czech hockey.

The beginning of the sports path

Jan Marek was born on December 31, 1979 in Jindrichuv Hradec. Hockey began to play in the local hockey school. Yang began to successfully act as a striker. In the 1995-1996 season. this hockey player became the best player among juniors. Jan Marek started his professional career at the Zelezarni Trinec club, which was later renamed the Ocelarzhi team. The striker's talent was revealed in the 2002-2003 season. The hockey player showed a quality game and, following the results of the tournament, became top scorer Czech championship. Jan was selected by the New York Rangers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Despite this, he remained to play for his native Czech club. Season 2004-2005 this striker spent on loan in the Sparta team. For this club, he played at the Spengler Cup. At the end of the season, Jan Marek returned to Ocelarji to help that club in the play-off series. In 2005, Marek signed a one-year contract with Sparta.

Career in Russia

Marek, playing for the Czech national team on international tournaments, showed himself well, and he was noticed by the breeders of the Metallurg club from the glorious city of Magnitogorsk. At the end of the season, in which the Sparta club became the champion of the extraleague, this talented striker moved to Magnitogorsk. Jan Marek, a hockey player who had no equal, became interested in the New York Rangers club. But this team offered him a two-way contract, according to which he could be sent to the second reserve team at any time for a small salary by the standards of the NHL. Marek and his agent were not satisfied with these conditions. Together with the Ural team Yan in the 2006-2007 season. became the champion of Russia. In the final game against Kazan "Ak Bars" Marek scored the winning goal. The following year, he became the top scorer in the KHL, and the Metallurgists from Magnitogorsk won bronze medals. This striker was one of the main stars of the KHL All-Star Game.

Continuing a career

Marek decided to leave Metallurg, and in the 2010-2011 season. he played in CSKA and Atlanta. The player was invited by the Lokomotiv team from Yaroslavl. The club brought together star players and talented youth. In addition, Jan's compatriots Vashichek and Rachunek played in this team. He was also on good terms with Slovak Pavol Demitra. Many hockey experts considered the Yaroslavl team to be the championship favorite after pre-season tournament. In Latvia, Lokomotiv confidently outplayed everyone and became the favorite of the tournament.

International career

Jan Marek has played at 4 world championships in his career. For the first time he took part in this tournament in 2007. The Czech national team finished 7th in the championship. Despite the failure, Marek's game was highly appreciated by hockey experts. He played 6 games and scored 5 points. The following year, the Czech national team at the World Cup again faced a failure. The team took only 6th place. Yang scored 3 points in 5 games. In 2010, the Czech national team brought a strong and complete squad to the World Cup. As a result, the team won gold medals at the end of the tournament, defeating the Russian team in the final. Jan scored 3 goals in 9 games. In 2011, the Czech team won bronze. Jan Marek has become a true leader of his team. He scored 3 points in 9 games. This world championship was unexpectedly the last in his career...

Unfulfilled departure from Lokomotiv

Jan Marek's agent claimed that he wanted to leave the Yaroslavl team, but the leadership of the Lokomotiv club managed to persuade the player to stay in the team. A lucrative contract was concluded with him, the coach and the fans hoped for him. Marek wanted to leave Russia, as his long-awaited first child was born. The family lived in the Czech Republic, he missed them very much. The wife did not want to move to Russia with the child. Jan did not like to fly, but he understood that this was an integral part of his profession. Before his death, he called up an agent and talked about the upcoming game.

Personal life

Yan met his wife, Lucy, while still at school. They were in the same class. Also in primary school she was nice to him. But Jan Marek could confess his feelings to her only in Last year study. On July 2, 2011, the hockey player had a son, who was named Jan in honor of his father. Marek was the happiest person in the world! He constantly showed his partners ultrasound pictures. Jan, after the birth of the child, was worried that he did not see him at all. But he decided to play a little more in Russia, and then return home to become an exemplary father for his son.

Tragedy in Yaroslavl

After the victory in Latvia, no one could have imagined that in 2 weeks, on September 7, a terrible tragedy would occur that would take the lives of talented athletes, fathers, and decent people. Hockey team Lokomotiv flew to Minsk on a Yak-42D airliner. The aircraft skidded off the runway during takeoff. The takeoff was made from the ground. The flight lasted only a few minutes, after which the airliner crashed into the ground and exploded. Only the aircraft engineer survived in this catastrophe... All the hockey players died, including Jan Marek. The cause of death of the players has long been clarified by experts. During the investigation, it was revealed that the tragedy occurred due to pilot error. Jan Marek, whose funeral took place in his hometown, will forever remain in the history of Czech and Russian hockey. The funeral was attended by a large number of people, including relatives, fans and athletes. Marek's father, together with his grandson, goes to his grave every day.

memory of an athlete

In memory of hockey player Jan Marek, an athlete's sweater was raised under the arches of the arena in Magnitogorsk. The hockey player left the Metallurg team not in the best mood: he had conflicts with the players and the coaching staff. He spoke about this in an interview in his homeland. In Magnitogorsk, Yan is still loved and remembered for his filigree game and virtuoso goals. For local young hockey players, Marek became a real idol.

Jan Marek, whose biography was tragically cut short, was remembered by everyone as a good athlete, husband and father. The career of this hockey player was worthily marked by glorious victories in major tournaments.

(2011-09-07 ) (31 year)
Tunoshna Airport,
Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia Career

Biography

In the 1995/96 season, playing for the Vaygar club from his native city, he was recognized as the best player in the Czech youth league. He began his professional career at the Zelezarni Trinec (now Ocelarzhi) club. In the 2002/03 season, Jan scored 62 points and scored 32 goals, becoming the best scorer in the extra league. Then, in 2003, he was drafted by the New York Rangers in the eighth round, 243 overall. Despite this, Jan continued to play for Ocelarzhi. In the 2004/05 season, Marek was rented by Sparta. As part of the Prague club, Marek took part in the Spengler Cup, but then returned to Oceláři to play the play-offs.

In the 2005/06 season, Marek signed a contract with Sparta, after which he spent one season there. Then, during his performances for the Czech national team, the leadership of Magnitogorsk Metallurg drew attention to him, and, having become the champion of the Czech Republic with Sparta, Marek moved to the Ural club. At the same time, Jan was made an offer by the New York Rangers, but the proposed bilateral agreement and a small salary did not suit the Czech.

In the 2010/2011 season, he played in the KHL for CSKA and Atlant. The 2011/2012 season was going to be spent at Lokomotiv.

On August 28, 2012, the ceremony of raising Jan Marek's sweater under the arches of the Metallurg Arena in Magnitogorsk took place.

Statistics

Club career

			regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League	Games	G	P	points	+/-	Str	Games	G	P	points	+/-	Str
1998-99	Ocelarzhi Trinec	CH-EL	32	2	2	4		2	6	0	0	0		0
1999-00	Ocelarzhi Trinec	CH-EL	32	1	5	6	1	4	2	0	0	0	-1	0
2000-01	Ocelarzhi Trinec	CH-EL	38	7	4	11	-5	2	--	--	--	--	--	--
2001-02	Ocelarzhi Trinec	CH-EL	52	13	27	40	8	44	6	1	3	4	-4	6
2002-03	Ocelarzhi Trinec	CH-EL	51	32	30	62	28	42	12	6	4	10	-1	22
2003-04	Sparta Prague	CH-EL	50	21	30	51	8	62	11	4	9	13	4	26
2004-05	Sparta Prague	CH-EL	38	7	21	28	16	26	5	2	2	4	-1	2
2005-06	Sparta Prague	CH-EL	48	22	32	54	25	66	17	4	4	8	2	24
2006-07	Metallurg Mg	RSL	47	17	30	47	21	70	15	7	10	17	13	10
2007-08	Metallurg Mg	RSL	49	16	32	48	17	40	11	4	3	7	-5	2
2008-09	Metallurg Mg	KHL	53	35	37	72	26	62	12	6	4	10	1	26
2009-10	Metallurg Mg	KHL	35	7	13	20	-6	14	10	3	1	4	-4	4
2010-11	CSKA	KHL	46	14	24	38	-7	46	--	--	--	--	--	--
	Atlant	KHL	5	2	0	2	1	8	20	7	10	17	0	10
Total in Ch-EL			341	105	151	256		248	59	17	22	39		80
Total in Russia			235	91	136	227	52	240	68	27	28	55	5	52

International competitions

Year	national team	Tournament	Place		AND	G	P	ABOUT	Str
	Czech	World Cup	7		6	2	3	5	4
	Czech	World Cup	6		5	2	1	3	4
	Czech	World Cup			9	3	0	3	4
	Czech	World Cup			9	1	2	3	14
Total (main team)					29	8	6	14	28

Memory

see also

• List of the best snipers of the USSR and Russian ice hockey championships

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An excerpt characterizing Marek, Jan

Secondly, it was pointless to stand in the way of people who had directed all their energy to flee.
Thirdly, it was pointless to lose their troops to destroy the French armies, which were being destroyed without external causes in such a progression that, without any blocking of the path, they could not transport more than what they transferred in the month of December, that is, one hundredth of the entire army, across the border.
Fourthly, it was pointless to want to capture the emperor, kings, dukes - people whose captivity would have made the actions of the Russians extremely difficult, as the most skillful diplomats of that time (J. Maistre and others) recognized. Even more senseless was the desire to take the French corps, when their troops melted half to the Red, and the divisions of the convoy had to be separated from the corps of prisoners, and when their soldiers did not always receive full provisions and the prisoners already taken were dying of hunger.
The whole thoughtful plan to cut off and catch Napoleon with the army was similar to the plan of a gardener who, driving out the cattle that had trampled on his ridges, would run to the gate and begin to beat this cattle on the head. One thing that could be said in defense of the gardener would be that he was very angry. But this could not even be said about the compilers of the project, because it was not they who suffered from the trampled ridges.
But besides the fact that cutting off Napoleon with the army was pointless, it was impossible.
It was impossible, firstly, because, since experience shows that the movement of columns for five miles in one battle never coincides with plans, the probability that Chichagov, Kutuzov and Wittgenstein converged on time at the appointed place was so negligible that it was equal to impossibility, as Kutuzov thought, even when he received the plan, he said that sabotage over long distances did not bring the desired results.
Secondly, it was impossible because, in order to paralyze the force of inertia with which Napoleon's army was moving back, it was necessary without comparison to have larger troops than those that the Russians had.
Thirdly, it was impossible because the military word to cut off does not make any sense. You can cut off a piece of bread, but not an army. There is no way to cut off the army - to block its way - because there are always a lot of places around where you can get around, and there is a night during which nothing is visible, which military scientists could be convinced of even from the examples of Krasnoy and Berezina. It is impossible to take prisoner without the one being taken prisoner not agreeing to it, just as it is impossible to catch a swallow, although you can take it when it sits on your hand. You can capture someone who surrenders, like the Germans, according to the rules of strategy and tactics. But the French troops quite rightly did not find this convenient, since the same starvation and cold death awaited them on the run and in captivity.
Fourthly, and most importantly, it was impossible because never, since the existence of peace, there has been a war under those terrible conditions under which it took place in 1812, and the Russian troops, in the pursuit of the French, strained all their strength and did not could do more without destroying themselves.
In the movement of the Russian army from Tarutino to Krasnoy, fifty thousand sick and backward left, that is, a number equal to the population of a large provincial city. Half of the people dropped out of the army without fighting.
And about this period of the campaign, when the troops without boots and coats, with incomplete provisions, without vodka, spend the night for months in the snow and at fifteen degrees of frost; when the day is only seven and eight hours, and the rest is night, during which there can be no influence of discipline; when, unlike in battle, for a few hours only people are brought into the region of death, where there is no longer discipline, but when people live for months, every minute fighting death from hunger and cold; when half the army dies in a month - historians tell us about this period of the campaign, how Miloradovich had to make a flank march there, and Tormasov there that, and how Chichagov had to move there that (move above the knee in the snow), and how he knocked over and cut off, etc., etc.
The Russians, who were half dying, did everything that could be done and should have been done to achieve a goal worthy of the people, and they are not to blame for the fact that other Russian people, sitting in warm rooms, intended to do what was impossible.
All this strange, now incomprehensible contradiction of the fact with the description of history occurs only because the historians who wrote about this event wrote the history of the beautiful feelings and words of various generals, and not the history of events.
For them, the words of Miloradovich, the awards that this and that general received, and their assumptions seem very entertaining; and the question of those fifty thousand who remained in hospitals and graves does not even interest them, because it is not subject to their study.
Meanwhile, one has only to turn away from the study of reports and general plans, and delve into the movement of those hundreds of thousands of people who took a direct, direct part in the event, and all the questions that previously seemed insoluble, suddenly, with extraordinary ease and simplicity, receive an undeniable solution.
The goal of cutting off Napoleon with an army never existed except in the imagination of a dozen people. It could not exist because it was meaningless and it was impossible to achieve it.
The goal of the people was one: to clear their land from invasion. This goal was achieved, firstly, by itself, since the French fled, and therefore it was only necessary not to stop this movement. Secondly, this goal was achieved by the actions of the people's war, which destroyed the French, and, thirdly, by the fact that a large Russian army followed the French, ready to use force if the French movement was stopped.
The Russian army had to act like a whip on a running animal. And an experienced driver knew that it was most advantageous to keep the whip raised, threatening them, and not to whip a running animal on the head.

When a person sees a dying animal, horror seizes him: what he himself is - his essence, is obviously destroyed in his eyes - ceases to be. But when a dying person is a person, and a loved one is felt, then, in addition to the horror of the annihilation of life, one feels a rupture and a spiritual wound, which, like a physical wound, sometimes kills, sometimes heals, but always hurts and is afraid of an external irritating touch.
After the death of Prince Andrei, Natasha and Princess Mary felt this in the same way. They, morally bent over and screwed up from the formidable cloud of death hanging over them, did not dare to look into the face of life. They carefully guarded their open wounds from offensive, painful touches. Everything: a carriage passing quickly down the street, a reminder of dinner, a girl's question about a dress that needs to be prepared; even worse, a word of insincere, weak sympathy painfully irritated the wound, seemed like an insult and broke that necessary silence in which they both tried to listen to the terrible, strict chorus that was still unsilent in their imagination, and prevented them from peering into those mysterious endless distances that opened up for a moment. In front of them.

Jan Marek(Czech Jan Marek; December 31, 1979, Jindrichuv-Hradec - September 7, 2011, Tunoshna, Yaroslavl region) - Czech hockey player, winger.

Biography

In the 1995/96 season, playing for the Vaygar club from his native city, he was recognized as the best player in the Czech youth league. He began his professional career at Zelezarni Trinec (now Ocelarzhi). In the 2002/03 season, Jan scored 62 points and scored 32 goals, becoming the best scorer in the extra league. He was then drafted by the New York Rangers in the eighth round, 243rd overall, in 2003. Despite this, Jan continued to play for Ocelarzhi. In the 2004/05 season, Marek was loaned to Sparta. As part of the Prague club, Marek took part in the Spengler Cup, but then returned to Ocelarzhi to play the playoffs.

In the 2005/06 season, Marek signed a contract with Sparta, after which he spent one season there. Then, during his performances for the Czech national team, the leadership of Magnitogorsk Metallurg drew attention to him, and, having become the champion of the Czech Republic with Sparta, Marek moved to the Ural club. At the same time, Jan was made an offer by the New York Rangers, but the proposed bilateral agreement and a small salary did not suit the Czech.

In the 2006/07 season, he became the champion of Russia as part of Metallurg Magnitogorsk, scoring the championship goal in the decisive match of the final series with Ak Bars. In the 2008/2009 season, he became the bronze medalist and the best sniper of the Continental Hockey League, and also participated in the finals of the Champions Hockey League.

Member of the KHL All-Star Game (2009).

In the 2010/2011 season, he played in the KHL for CSKA and Atlant. The 2011/2012 season was going to be spent at Lokomotiv.

For the Czech national team, Marek played 36 games in which he scored 18 points.

He died along with the Lokomotiv team on September 7, 2011 during takeoff from the Yaroslavl airport.

On August 28, 2012, the sweater lifting ceremony took place Jan Marek under the arches of the Metallurg Arena in Magnitogorsk.