Jiří Crha

Who is Jiří Crha?

Jiří Crha is a retired Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who played two seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jiří Crha had a full career in his homeland that included nine seasons in the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League, four World Championships and one Olympic Games before he crossed the ocean to pursue a career in the National Hockey League. Crha signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 4, 1980 and after seven games in the minors, he was playing at the NHL level.

Crha, who was known to teammates as "George" suited up for 15 games with Toronto and managed to win 8 of them. Crha impressed the Leaf brass enough for them to deal away long time starter Mike Palmateer and hand the reins to him. With Palmateer in Washington, Crha played 54 games in 1980–81 and managed an even record of 20–20–11 despite the fact the team was nine games under .500 on the season.

Despite his success with the struggling Maple Leafs Crha played just three more games in North America after the 1980–81 season, and they were all in the minors.

By 1983 Crha had headed to Germany to continue his playing career.