Former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Roman Cechmanek passed away at 52 in his homeland, Czechia, on Sunday, as announced by the Flyers on X. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
According to the International Ice Hockey Federation, Cechmanek had canceled plans to play hockey with friends on the day of his passing due to not feeling well. His son discovered him in his apartment, and the IIHF has ruled out foul play and suicide as the cause of death.
"The Philadelphia Flyers are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of former goaltender Roman Cechmanek," said Keith Jones, president of hockey operations, in the team's statement.
"A late-round draft pick, Cechmanek spent three seasons with the team from 2000 through 2003, where he was highly successful and made an instant impact to our club on the ice and in the locker room."
Jones fondly remembered Cechmanek's contribution to the team, highlighting his success on the ice and his popularity among fans and teammates for his distinctive style and goal-stopping prowess.
"His passing at too young of an age is heartbreaking to us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time," said Jones.
Cechmanek's hockey journey
Cechmanek spent four seasons in the NHL from 2000 to 2004, leaving a lasting impact on the league, particularly during his time with the Philadelphia Flyers.
"Truthfully, the minute he got here, there was no doubt in my mind he was NHL-ready, and it turns out he was more than NHL-ready because he ended up being the starter that year and pretty much took my job," said Brian Boucher, Cechmanek's goaltending partner.
Despite entering the league at the age of 29, he quickly became a formidable goaltender. In his rookie season (2000-01), he achieved 35 wins, an All-Star selection and a second-place finish in Vezina Trophy voting.
Former coach Ken Hitchcock described Cechmanek as an "acrobat in goal" and praised his unique playing style.
"He would use any part of his body to stop the puck. One of the characters of the game," he said.
Cechmanek led the Flyers to three playoffs in a row, with two seasons of 100 points and an Atlantic Division title. He and Robert Esche formed a great duo, winning the NHL's William M. Jennings Trophy in 2002-03 for allowing the fewest goals in the regular season.
After that, Cechmanek got traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a second-round draft pick before the 2003-04 season. He played one more season with the Kings and then headed back to Europe during the NHL lockout.
Throughout his NFL career, Cechmanek played 212 games, finishing with a 110-64-28 record, 25 shutouts, 2.08 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. The goalie played professionally in Germany and Sweden after retiring from the NFL.
He also represented the Czech national team, winning three World Championships and an Olympic gold medal in 1998.
"We spent a lot of time together on the national team," said retired goalie Milan Hnilicka.
"We were healthy competitors, which benefited the team. We always tried to be better than each other. It helped the whole group tremendously. When one didn't work out, the other jumped in. It was a proper rivalry; we both wanted to be the best."
Following his playing career, Cechmanek continued contributing to the sport by coaching youth hockey in Czechia, according to the Flyers.