Roman Cervenka: putting Jagr to work as a press-attache

In the latest edition of KHL’ru’s series of articles about the league’s legends, we’re talking about another Czech star: Roman Cervenka won a Gagarin Cup and a World Championship while playing in Russia.Ruzicka’s favoriteIn the 1990s and 2000s, most leading Czech players preferred to go abroad at a young age. For example, Josef Vasicek and Karel Rachunek, who featured in earlier articles, headed across the Atlantic at 17 and 20 respectively. Less frequently, Czech prospects came to Russia: a 19-year-old Jiri Hudler went to Ak Bars. But Roman Cervenka was an exception, remaining in his homeland until he was approaching his 25th birthday.Cervenka learned the game with Slavia Prague. That’s where he began his pro career. At the time, Vladimir Ruzicka was Slavia’s head coach. He also took charge of the national team and was one of the most respected figures in Czech hockey. People close to Cervenka recalled that Roman did not want to play abroad because he had such a strong relationship with his coach, who took him to the World Championship and the Olympics. Things were going well for Cervenka and he didn’t want to harm an important relationship.282 games 232 (106+126) points Gagarin Cup winner (2015) Continental Cup winner (2011) Czech champion (2008) World Champion (2010, 2024) and bronze medallist (2011, 2022) Russian championship runner-up (2012) Top KHL goalscorer (2011) KHL playoff scoring leader (2012) Golden Helmet (2012) KHL All-Star (2011, 2012) Roman Cervenka May 23, 2010 Became a World Champion with Team Czech Republic May 25, 2010 Signed a contract with Avangard Sep. 11, 2010 Made his KHL debut against Spartak Feb. 5, 2011 Played his first KHL All-Star Game Feb. 18, 2011 Won the Continental Cup May 20, 2011 Awarded a prize as the season’s top KHL goalscorerIn 2010, Ruzicka stepped down from the national team. He left on a high, with the Czechs defeating a strong Russian team in the World Championship final. However, he had decided to quit back in March, shortly after the Vancouver Olympics. The Czechs lost out to Finland in the quarterfinals and Ruzicka took the blame. Coincidence or not, 2010 was also when Cervenka finally decided to leave his homeland.Several KHL clubs were keen on Cervenka. Spartak wanted him to center a line with Branko Radivojevic and Stefan Ruzicka back in 2009. But it was another year before Roman came to Russia. It’s unlikely he spent a long time weighing up an offer from Avangard. Afterall, Omsk was already home to a living legend of Czech hockey, Jaromir Jagr. The chance to be at the same club was a compelling argument, the prospect of playing on the same line was too good to resist.Beaten finalist, then championCervenka played one season alongside Jagr. In statistical terms, it was one of the best in his career with 61 points. Moreover, it remains his best goal return as he found the net 31 times. He led the league in goals and was third in points that regular season. Jagr helped the newcomer on and off the ice. On arrival in Russia, Cervenka only spoke Czech. His experienced compatriot became his main translator.“It was quite a problem. When I first came to Russia I couldn’t understand a word. It was really tough. Jagr helped a lot, we were always close and I tried to absorb everything like a sponge, to follow every word. Sometimes, I asked him to speak Russian with me. There were some funny moments. Every time a journalist wanted to interview me, he would ask for Jagr. Jaromir got fed up with this and told me: either learn Russian as quick as I could, or hire him as a press-attache! In the end, until I learned the language, he tried to keep away from journalists.” Roman CervenkaCervenka helped Avangard top the regular season standings in his first season. But in the playoffs he was less effective. In the first round the Hawks struggled to get past Neftekhimik in seven games. The team fell to Metallurg in game seven of round two. After that, Jaromir went back to the NHL. However, Cervenka stepped up to fill that ap. He led the team in goals, assists and points in regular and post season. Moreover, in the playoffs, the Czech outscored everyone. Avangard made it all the way to the Gagarin Cup final and led 3-1 before losing out to Dynamo Moscow in seven games.After that near miss, Cervenka opted not to extend his contract with Avangard and took the chance to play in the NHL with Calgary. However, that chance did not arrive immediately as the NHL went into lock-out. At first, Roman went home to Slavia, then he came back to the KHL with the short-lived Czech franchise Lev. In the end, though, he managed just five games before a new agreement saw the start of a truncate NHL campaign and sent Cervenka to Canada.In Calgary, Cervenka encountered a familiar. Skilled, but not all that big, he found himself on a long list of Europeans who didn’t quite fit in the North American game. That’s possibly why he only took a one-year contract. Soon his was back in the KHL and heading to SKA.At that time, St. Petersburg was desperately trying to assemble a champion team. Yet success remained elusive. Cervenka’s first season with the club was no exception. He was third in team scoring in the regular season, and led the way in the playoffs, but could not prevent a quarter-final loss against Lokomotiv.But next season was a triumph. Roman continued to score freely in the regular season, 36 points compared with 39 a year earlier. In the playoffs, he was quieter, but still played his part in securing Petersburg’s first ever Gagarin Cup.  16 major international tournamentsOn the international stage, Cervenka had a great career for the Czechs. He played in four Olympics, 11 World Championships and a World Cup. His first international medal was a junior bronze, secured in 2005 under the coaching of Alois Hadamczik. The Czechs would have to wait until 2023 to get another World Junior medal. At the World Championship, Roman claimed gold at the second attempt in 2010. After that, he and the Czechs had to wait until 2024 to become World Champions again.Cervenka also won two bronze medals in 2011 and 2022. Those were Cervenka’s most productive international campaigns. In 2011 the Czechs looked a strong team, winning every game except the semi-final against Sweden. Cervenka starred in the bronze meal game against Russia, scoring three goals and an assist in 7-4 victory. In total, he had 10 (4+6) points through nine games.Apr. 6, 2012 qualified for Gagarin Cup final May 23, 2012 awarded a Golden Helmet after making the KHL team of the season May 15, 2012 joined SKA Apr. 19, 2015 won the Gagarin Cup and scored in the deciding gameMore than a decade later, Cervenka was even more productive: 5+12 in 10 games, including 2+4 in the knockout games. In the bronze medal game, the Czechs beat the USA 8-4 and Roman was named top forward of the tournament as well as the leading scorer.Then in 2024, on home ice in Prague, he captained his country to a long-awaited gold. With 11 (3+8) points in 10 games, he led the team in scoring ahead of former Traktor man Lukas Sedlak.By then, Cervenka had left the KHL. He did not remain with SKA after the 2015 triumph, but was regularly linked with clubs including Avangard, Severstal and Barys. In the end, though, he never came back. He played a year back home, then moved to Switzerland where he remained until 2024 and was always among the leading scorers. Now 38, Cervenka shows no sign of hanging them up an signed a two-year contract with Dynamo Pardubice this summer.FactfileRoman CervenkaBorn Dec. 10, 1985 in PragueCareer: 2003-2004, 2005-2010, 2012-2013 – Slavia Prague (CZE), 2004-2005 – Hraec Kralove (CZE2), Havlickov Brod (CZE3), 2010-2012 – Avangard (KHL), 2012-2013 – Lev Prague (KHL), Calgary (NHL), 2013-2015 – SKA (KHL), 2015 -2016 – Chomutov (CZE), 2016-2018 – Fribourg (SUI), 2018-2019 – Zurich (SUI), 2019-2024 – Rapperswill (SUI), 2024-present – Dynamo Pardubice.Honors: World champion (2010, 2024) and bronze medallist (2011, 2022), World junior bronze medallist (2005), Gagarin Cup winner (2015), runner-up (2012), Czech champion (2008), runner-up (2004, 2009) and bronze medallist (2010).