Boston Bruin's Zdeno Chara and His Hockey Career

Zdeno Chara is not a name you hear on a regular basis, that is, unless you're a Boston Bruins fan. Zdeno Chara was born in Trencin, Czechoslovakia (the part which is now Slovakia) on March 18, 1977, making him thirty-two years old. Zdeno Chara is 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 260 pounds. This Boston Bruins Captain is the tallest player in the NHL and also the tallest player to ever play in the NHL. Zdeno Chara began playing hockey in North America in the 1996-1997 season for the Prince George Cougars in the WHL (Western Hockey League). The WHL is one of the three leagues that makes up the CHL (Canadian Hockey League), which is the highest level of junior in all of Canada.

In 1996, Zdeno Chara was drafted by the New York Islanders, 96th overall. After being drafted, Chara was moved to the AHL (American Hockey League). The AHL mainly serves as a farm league with feeder teams for the NHL and as a league for players that have been drafted to get a little more experience in before playing in the NHL. Zdeno Chara played with the Kentucky Thoroughblades at the beginning of the 1997-1998 season. He played the majority of the season there, but was called up to play with the New York Islanders until the end of the season. Despite being called up towards the end of the 1997-1998 season, he started off the 1998-1999 season back in the AHL with the Lowell Lock Monsters. He played about twenty games with them, but was called up again by the New York Islanders to play in the NHL the rest of the season.

The 1999-2000 season was Zdeno Chara's first full season in the NHL. The 2000-2001 season was Chara's last season with the New York Islanders. At the beginning of the 2001-2002, Zdeno Chara was playing with the HC Dukla Trencin in the SVK (Slovak Extraliga), which is the best hockey league in Slovakia. Chara only played eight games with them before heading back to the United States to play with the Ottawa Senators. Zdeno Chara played with the Ottawa Senators until the NHL Lockout of 2004-2005. During the NHL Lockout, Zdeno Chara headed over to Sweden to play for the Farjestads BK in the SEL (Swedish Elite League). Once the Lockout was over, Zdeno Chara went back to the Ottawa Senators for his last season. In 2006-2007, Zdeno Chara signed with the Boston Bruins and has been playing with them since.

Zdeno Chara has also represented Slovakia in many international events. In 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, and 2007, Chara played for Slovakia in the World Championships. In 2004, he played for Slovakia in the World Cup. Zdeno Chara also played for Team Slovakia in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

ref-www.nhl.com