Hockey World Mourning as Former Gold Medalist Sadly Passes Away

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Jack Sutherland
April 6, 2025 (4:07 PM)

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Photo credit: International Hockey Lineal Championship

The hockey world has been thrust into mourning with the confirmed passing of former gold medalist and Czech Hockey Hall of Famer Jiri Kochta.

The hockey world has once again been thrust into mourning, as it has been confirmed that former silver medalist and Czech Hockey Hall of Famer Jiri Kochta has passed away at the age of 72.

He had been battling cancer for some time and tragically succumbed to the disease.

Via Czech journalist Robert Záruba on social media:

(translated from Czech: Jiři Kochta, the 1972 world champion and Sparta icon, has died after a long battle with a serious illness. Luděk Bukač wrote about him in his book, "the best hockey player I have ever coached."

Via Hockey Worldwide:

I am sorry to hear about the passing of former forward 🇨🇿Jiři Kochta at the age of 72, following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Kochta played for ASD Dukla Jihlava 🇨🇿 and TJ Sparta Praha 🇨🇿 in the Czechoslovak Extraliga from 1965-1979. He helped Jihlava win the Spengler Cup in 1965 and the Extraliga in 1967 and 1968. The Praha native ended his career playing for EV Landshut 🇩🇪, EHC 70 München 🇩🇪, and EC Hedos München 🇩🇪 until 1986.

Internationally, Kochta scored 46 (24+22) points in 67 games with Czechoslovakia 🇨🇿 from 1967-1975. He won a gold medal at the 1972 World Championship; silver medals at the 1968 Olympics, 1971 World Championship, 1974 World Championship, and 1975 World Championship; and bronze medals at the 1970 World Championship, 1972 Olympics, and 1973 World Championship.

Kochta was inducted into the Czech Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010.