Juraj Šimek (born 29 September 1987) is a Slovak-born Swiss professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with GKS Katowice of the Polska Hokej Liga (PHL).

Juraj Šimek
Born (1987-09-29) 29 September 1987 (age 36)
Prešov, Czechoslovakia
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
PositionRight wing
ShootsLeft
PHL team
Former teams
GKS Katowice
EHC Kloten
Manitoba Moose
Norfolk Admirals
Providence Bruins
Genève-Servette HC
TPS
HC Lugano
SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
HC 21 Prešov
NHL draft167th overall, 2006
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career2004–present

Playing career

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Prior to moving to North America, Šimek played in Switzerland between the junior and senior (Nationalliga A and B) leagues with Bern, Kloten, and Biel. After a strong season with Kloten's junior team in 2005–06, posting 68 points in 45 games, Šimek was chosen in the sixth round, 167th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Selected by the Brandon Wheat Kings with their first choice in the 2006 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft,[1] Šimek made his North American debut in 2006–07 with the Wheat Kings. He scored at a near point-per-game pace, with 57 points in 58 games and received his first NHL contract in the off-season, on July 23, 2007, with the Canucks.[1]

Signed with the Canucks, he made his AHL debut with Vancouver's minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, in 2007–08 and scored 17 points in 66 games. On October 6, 2008, he was traded along with Lukáš Krajíček to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Michel Ouellet and Shane O'Brien.[2]

On December 9, 2010, Tampa Bay traded Šimek to the Boston Bruins in exchange for minor league forward Levi Nelson.[3]

On October 15, 2019, Genève-Servette HC managed to loan struggling Šimek to the SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers through November 10. It was later announced that Šimek would remain with the Lakers for the remainder of the 2019/20 season.

On April 29, 2020, Šimek joined EHC Kloten of the second-tier Swiss League on a one-year deal.

International play

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Šimek has played for the Swiss national junior team twice at the World Junior Championships.[1]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2002–03SC BernSUI U202101020000
2003–04Kloten FlyersSUI U2036861428
2004–05Kloten FlyersSUI U203917133062923510
2004–05Kloten FlyersNLA180000
2005–06Kloten FlyersSUI U2042214263196
2005–06Kloten FlyersNLA80114
2005–06EHC BielSUI.230002
2006–07Brandon Wheat KingsWHL582829574191566
2007–08Manitoba MooseAHL66710173011010
2008–09Norfolk AdmiralsAHL639132249
2009–10Norfolk AdmiralsAHL7521153631
2010–11Norfolk AdmiralsAHL213690
2010–11Providence BruinsAHL110006
2010–11Genève–Servette HCNLA2000051012
2011–12Genève–Servette HCNLA501192026
2012–13Genève–Servette HCNLA502010302074044
2013–14Genève–Servette HCNLA5092231691242612
2014–15Genève–Servette HCNLA33671316
2014–15TPSLiiga1524610
2014–15HC LuganoNLA63470601118
2015–16Genève–Servette HCNLA31681418101234
2016–17Genève–Servette HCNLA44310133140004
2017–18Genève–Servette HCNL501214262050002
2018–19Genève–Servette HCNL26213461120
2019–20Genève–Servette HCNL121010
2019–20SC Rapperswil–Jona LakersNL33891722
2020–21EHC KlotenSUI.2429615441012329
2021–22EHC KlotenSUI.22525741
2022–23HC 21 PrešovSVK1908810
2022–23GKS KatowicePOL1228103318491310
NL totals4138195176230551161746
AHL totals23640448411611010

International

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YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2005SwitzerlandWJC189th52022
2006SwitzerlandWJC7th61346
2007SwitzerlandWJC7th64152
Junior totals17741110

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Canucks sign forward Juraj Simek". Vancouver Canucks. Archived from the original on 2007-09-23. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  2. ^ Vancouver Canucks. "Canucks acquire Shane O'Brien and Michel Ouellet". Vancouver Canucks. Archived from the original on 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  3. ^ "Lightning deal Juraj Simek for Levi Nelson". rawcharge.com. 2010-12-09. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
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