Bohumil Modry

This handsome man is Bohumil Modry, an early Czech goaltending star who set the stage for future puck stopping legends such as Jiri Holecek, Vladimir Dzurilla and Dominik Hasek.

Bohumil Modry played mostly with LTC Prague from 1936 through 1950. Described as a natural born leader, he is two time world champion (1947 and 1949), and six time Czechoslovakia champ.

Modry became known to astute observers in Canada after the 1948 Olympics when he shutout Canada in a scoreless tie. He also helped to build the game, serving as role model for future goalies and publishing his goaltending philosophies in Czech magazines.

During his playing days he was known as the best
goalie in Europe, and a legend in Czechoslovakia - so much so that when the communists took over they were looking to make examples of people of higher social classes to intimidate the general population and as a result Modry was imprisoned for 15 years based on fabricated charges. He would be released in 1956 at age 39.