Known for his seriousness, discipline and overall toughness Bobby Holik came from Czechoslovakia to the National Hockey League where after two seasons with the Hartford Whalers he found a real home with the New Jersey Devils.  Holik would play for the Devils for ten straight seasons where he would score 463 Points over that period with three consecutive 60 Point campaigns from 1996-97 to 1998-99.  In that later season (98-99) Holik would start a new streak where he went five straight seasons where he earned votes for the Frank J Selke Trophy, a testament to his two-way ability.  With New Jersey, he would help the team win two Stanley Cups (1995 & 2000) and he was himself a two-time All-Star.

With a solid career in the National Hockey League, Finnish Defenseman Sami Salo had a solid though massively injury riddled career.  Salo scored 339 career Points with his best years coming as one of the anchors of a good Vancouver Canucks defensive corps.  Salo, who was tagged as injury prone (he allegedly had 40 injuries over his career) would still play 15 seasons in the NHL and more notably was a four time Olympian for the Finnish team where he won a Silver Medal and two Bronzes.

From Czechoslovakia, Robert Lang had a very good career in the National Hockey League although it took him some time to really find his groove.  In his late 20’s, Lang came into his own when he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins and in his third season there at age 30, he had an 80 Point Season.  Lang would later join Washington where he performed well and at one point three quarters into the 2003/04 season, he was the leading scorer, and then he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings, which marked the first time that the leading scorer was ever traded during the season.  Lang would be injured shortly thereafter, but he would still finish the season ninth in Assists and Points.  Lang would play for Detroit another two seasons and would finish his career with a season each in Chicago, Montreal and Phoenix.

Cliff Ronning was considered by some to be a flashy player in terms of his skill though he always seemed to be overshadowed by bigger names.  Ronning’s best run was with the Vancouver Canucks where he had four 60 Point seasons and helped them reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1994.  He would score 869 career Points in the National Hockey League.