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Petr Cech was famous for being one of the most secure pair of hands in a Premier League net. He's considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in Premier League history. Cech played with Chelsea for 11 seasons before joining Arsenal, where he played for four seasons, before hanging up his gloves.
That wasn't the last time Cech wore a pair of gloves, because in October 2019, he added pads, helmet and a stick to his goalstopping arsenal. Cech signed for the Division 2 Ice Hockey Team Guildford Phoenix of the National Ice Hockey League (NIHL) in the second tier of British ice hockey.
In an interview with the Dailymail, Cech reflected on his younger days when he enjoyed ice hockey but his family could not afford the expensive ice hockey equipment, which eventually pushed him to choose football as his future. He said:
"Don't get me wrong. I love football. But in terms of playing, I felt being an ice hockey goalie was more fun. But as a family, we couldn't afford to buy all the equipment – the stick, the pads, helmet, gloves, everything. It was super expensive. So my dad took me to football. The timing collided, and in the end, football won."
Cech is the oldest player in the team at 40 and is also not the first-choice goaltender for the team. However, he has a positive way of looking at it, as sees it as an opportunity to pass on experience to the younger players.
"I'm the oldest in the team, and that keeps me young. When you are the oldest and playing with guys who (are) very young, you can pass on some experience."
Petr Cech's Semi-Professional Ice Hockey Career
In his first season with Guildford Phoenix, Cech boasted of a .934 SV% in six games and was awarded the Man of the Match on his debut for saving two penalties in a shootout.
In November 2022, Cech signed with the Chelmsford Chieftaints in the NIHL Division 1 South. According to Eliteprospects, he has played seven games this season, making 217 saves with a .897 SV% and 3.98 GAA. The Chieftains are fifth in the league with a 9-10-4 record.
Will Petr Cech make an appearance in NHL?
In January 2023, Petr Cech was seen in the nets during a Chicago Blackhawks' training session. There are no trade rumors yet, but the legendary footballer could become the first player in history to play in the Premier League and NHL.
