Pastrnak Named 2020 Czech Athlete of the Year

BostonBruins.com - Bruins winger David Pastrnak was named the 2020 Czech Athlete of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the first hockey player to capture the award since Jaromir Jagr in 2005. In June, the 24-year-old captured his fourth consecutive Czech Hockey Player of the Year title, matching Jagr's record.
Pastrnak scored 48 goals during the 2019-20 season, tying Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin for the National Hockey League lead and the Rocket Richard Trophy. His 95 points in 70 games were a career high.

Czech media, who vote for the award, reported that Pastrnak is just the fourth hockey player in the 62-year history of the award to capture the "crown," joining Jagr and goalies Dominik Hasek and Josef Mikolas.
Pastrnak finished with 1,253 points to beat out snowboarder and alpine skier Ester Ledecka. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ondrej Palat finished sixth in the voting (915) and was the only other hockey player in the top 10.
"I would never have imagined that I could win the Athlete of the Year of the Czech Republic. In hockey, the biggest prize is collective success, but having your name on such a trophy with a great history is something amazing," Pastrnak said via NHL.com.
On Monday, Bruins president Cam Neely said Pastrnak recently returned to Boston to continue rehabbing from the hip surgery he underwent in mid-September. His projected recovery time is five months.