Stanislav Konopasek

Political prisoner and member of the golden generation of czechoslovak players, that won World Championship in 1949 and silver medal at Olympic games in 1948. Soon before the departure to London for the World championship in 1950, Konopasek and his 12 teammates from national hockey team were arrested by communists. In mendacious political trial they were accused of treason against communism (they thought they want to emigrate), physically tortured and then sentenced from 8 months to 15 years of inprisonment. Stanislav Konopasek was sentenced to 12 years in uranium prisoner camp near Pribram. After 5 years of torture and humiliation in the "camps of death" he was released. However his health was severely damaged all his life. He died on March 6, 2008. (Jan Jech)