IIHF Hall Of Fame Induction 2024
Igor LIBA
Player
Born Kosice, Czechoslovakia (Slovakia), November 4, 1960
Igor Liba was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2024 as a Player.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Andrea Cardin
A pro to the core, Igor Liba was the very embodiment of an international superstar for the nearly quarter century he played the game. He started skating with his hometown Kosice team in 1979 as an 18-year-old and quickly showed remarkable poise and skill. Liba made his debut with the national team at the World Junior Championship in Sweden in 1979, winning a silver medal on the final day after a 6-5 win over Finland. It was the first of 13 international events he played in for the Czechs.
A year later, the 19-year-old had four goals in five games at the World Juniors, and he made his senior debut two years later, winning another silver medal, his first of three senior silvers in a row (1983 Worlds, 1984 Olympics). Word was getting out about Liba’s play, and he was named the Czech player of the year for the 1983-84 season.
By no means the biggest player, he was hard to knock off the puck and was tenacious all over the ice. In 1983, the Calgary Flames used their 91st selection overall to draft Liba at a time when Czechoslovakia was Communist and would never release a player of Liba’s quality in the prime of his career. Still, the message was clear and the compliment received.
A year later, the 19-year-old had four goals in five games at the World Juniors, and he made his senior debut two years later, winning another silver medal, his first of three senior silvers in a row (1983 Worlds, 1984 Olympics). Word was getting out about Liba’s play, and he was named the Czech player of the year for the 1983-84 season.
By no means the biggest player, he was hard to knock off the puck and was tenacious all over the ice. In 1983, the Calgary Flames used their 91st selection overall to draft Liba at a time when Czechoslovakia was Communist and would never release a player of Liba’s quality in the prime of his career. Still, the message was clear and the compliment received.
Igor Liba helped Czechoslovakia win Men’s World Championship in Prague in 1985.
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation
The highlight of Liba’s career came at the 1985 World Championship on home ice, in Prague, while playing on a line with Darius Rusnak and Vincent Lukac. The Czechs beat the Soviets, United States, and Canada in the medal round to claim their first gold since 1977. They couldn’t defend that gold a year later, but in 1987 they added a bronze medal to their collection.
During these years Liba was a leader on the Kosice club team, but in 1988 he decided to try the NHL. He attended the training camp of the Minnesota North Stars after GM Lou Nanne acquired his rights, along with teammate Dusan Pasek. But when that didn’t work out the New York Rangers acquired Liba. He made his NHL debut on November 6, 1988, earning an assist on a first-period goal by Don Maloney. Three days later, Liba scored his first goal.
Liba was later sent to the L.A. Kings, but injuries marred his season and he returned home to the more comfortable arenas of his native Czechoslovakia. He later played in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the latter. He finished his international career in 1992, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 5-2 win over Switzerland to win the bronze medal at the Men’s World Championship.
In domestic league play, Liba later played in Austria, and in 1996 he realized a dream by playing professionally in Slovakia, his recently-independent country of birth. He stayed for six years, helping promote and develop the game at home, before retiring in 2003. Two years later, he took his rightful place in the Slovak Hall of Fame.
During these years Liba was a leader on the Kosice club team, but in 1988 he decided to try the NHL. He attended the training camp of the Minnesota North Stars after GM Lou Nanne acquired his rights, along with teammate Dusan Pasek. But when that didn’t work out the New York Rangers acquired Liba. He made his NHL debut on November 6, 1988, earning an assist on a first-period goal by Don Maloney. Three days later, Liba scored his first goal.
Liba was later sent to the L.A. Kings, but injuries marred his season and he returned home to the more comfortable arenas of his native Czechoslovakia. He later played in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the latter. He finished his international career in 1992, scoring a goal and adding an assist in a 5-2 win over Switzerland to win the bronze medal at the Men’s World Championship.
In domestic league play, Liba later played in Austria, and in 1996 he realized a dream by playing professionally in Slovakia, his recently-independent country of birth. He stayed for six years, helping promote and develop the game at home, before retiring in 2003. Two years later, he took his rightful place in the Slovak Hall of Fame.
