Karel Gut

Karel Gut passed away today, January 6th, 2014. He was 86.

Gut was an offensively talented defenseman who was voted as the best defenseman at the 1955 World Championships. Often paired with Frantisek Tikal, he was a mainstay on the Czechoslovakian national team throughout the 1950s. He represented his country in 114 matches (scoring 34 goals) and served as team captain from 1952-1960.

Gut was better known to western audiences as a very successful national team coach from 1973 through 1979, winning world titles in 1976 and '77 and a silver medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.

Gut is a member of both the Czech and IIHF Hockey Hall of Fame.