sad story... RIP Jaroslav Jirik...

who was Jaroslav Jirik? the first Czech officially allowed to play in the NHL,during the communist era,in Czechoslovakia,who played only three games,for the St. Louis Blues,in 1969-1970... in fact,he was the first player ever allowed to play in NHL,by the communist authorities,behind the Iron Curtin... he was invited to play in 1970-1971,for the Blues,but went back to his homeland to play five more years,and then coached in the Czech,and German leagues,and coached the Swiss national team,in the late 1970's... well,he died in a plane crash,in the city of Brno,125 miles southeast of Prague,at age 71...