Augustin Bubník

Political prisoner and member of the golden generation of czechoslovak players, that won World Championship in 1949 and silver medal at Olympic games in 1948. Talented player whose career and life was crushed by communists when he was only 22 years old. Soon before the departure to London for the World championship in 1950, Bubnik and his 12 teammates from national hockey team were arrested by communists. In mendacious political trial they were accused of treason against communism (they thought they want to emigrate), physically tortured and then sentenced from 8 months to 15 years of inprisonment. Augustin Bubnik was sentenced to 14 years in uranium prisoner camp in Jachymov. After 5 years of torture and humiliation in the "camps of death" he was released. However his health was severely damaged. Later he was coaching the national team of Finland and had a major impact on developement of ice-hockey in Finland. (Jan Jech)