Edmonton Oiler's Lubomir Visnovsky and His Hockey Career

If you're a hockey fan, you've probably heard the name Lubomir Visnovsky. With a name like Lubomir Visnovsky, it's safe to assume that this NHL player is not from the United States. Lubomir Visnovsky was born in Topolcany, Czechoslovakia (the part that is now Slovakia) on August 11, 1976, making him thirty-two years old. Lubomir Visnovsky is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds, which is a bit on the small side when you are talking about professional hockey players, but his size is irrelevant when you consider his achievements.

Prior to playing in the NHL, Lubomir Visnovsky played with the Slovan Bratislava. Visnovsky was drafted to the NHL in 2000 by the Los Angeles Kings, 118th overall. Lubomir Visnovsky played his first season in the NHL after being drafted in the 2000-2001. He spent no time in the AHL (American Hockey League) before getting to play with the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL. Visnovsky also was never sent back down to play in the AHL, as many other young hockey players are. In his first season with the Los Angeles Kings, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie team. Lubomir Visnovsky has spent the majority of his hockey career with the team that drafted him, the Los Angeles Kings from the 2000-2001 season to the 2007-2008 season (with the exception of the 2004-2005 season during the lockout, during which he went back to Slovakia). In 2007, Lubomir Visnovsky was selected to play in the NHL All-Star game.

After the 2007-2008 season with the Kings, Lubomir Visnovsky was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for the 2008-2009 season. Lubomir Visnovsky was put on Edmonton's injury reserve in February of 2009 after he injured his shoulder in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Visnovsky first season with the Edmonton Oilers was cut short when he had to have surgery on his shoulder and could not return to his team for the remainder of the season.

Lubomir Visnovsky is a big name in Slovakia. He was voted the best defensemen of Slovakia in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2005. He was also voted the best hockey player in Slovakia in 2005. Visnovsky has also represented Slovakia in many of their hockey events. Lubomir Visnovsky played hockey for Slovakia in the World Championship in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 (Slovakia won silver), 2002 (Slovakia won gold), 2003 (Slovakia won bronze), and again in 2008. In addition to playing for Slovakia in the World Championship, he also played for them in the World Cup in 1996 and 2004. Lubomir Visnovsky was also a part of Slovakia's Olympic hockey team in 1998, 2002, and again in 2006.

ref-www.nhl.com