Zdeno Chára

Chára in 2009, photo by PrPhotos

Place of Birth: Trenčín, Czechoslovakia

Date of Birth: 18 March, 1977

Ethnicity: Slovak

Zdeno Chára is a Slovak professional ice hockey player. A defenceman, he played for Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga, the New York Islanders, Dukla Trenčín of the Slovak Extraliga, the Ottawa Senators, Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), the Boston Bruins, Lev Praha of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), and the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL); he was also with the Slovakia national team. He played a total of twenty four seasons in the NHL. He is nicknamed “Big Z.” He is 6′9″, and is known as the tallest person to have played in the NHL.

Zdeno is the son of Zdeněk Chára, a Greco-Roman wrestler. He is a polyglot who speaks Slovak, Czech, Polish, Swedish, Russian, German, and English. Zdeno is married to Tatiana Biskupicová, with whom he has three children.