Czech hockey great Jaroslav Holik dies at 72

PRAGUE (AP) Jaroslav Holik, an offensive forward who helped Czechoslovakia win a hockey world title and an Olympic bronze medal in 1972, has died. He was 72.

The Czech ice hockey federation said Friday that Holik, the father of NHL player Bobby Holik, died after battling an unspecified, long-term illness.

Holik scored 57 goals for Czechoslovakia in his 142 international games and led his country to the bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics in Sapporo. The Czechs also won six world championship medals, including gold in 1972.

After retirement, he became a successful coach, leading the Czech under-20 team to two straight world junior hockey titles in 2000-01.

His son, Bobby Holik, retired from the NHL in 2009 after playing 1,314 games.