Jiří Koleňák: My name is Jiří Koleňák and welcome to the Úspěšní (Successful) podcast, where my guests and I explore the principles, habits, and methods that drive their success. My guest today is Pavel Francouz. Pavel is a former Czech professional ice hockey goaltender, famous not only for his stellar reflexes and speed, but also for his incredible tenacity and determination. He started playing hockey in Plzeň, rising through the youth ranks into professional hockey. After success in the Czech Extraliga, he moved to the KHL, but his career milestone came with his move to the NHL, where he fulfilled his dream and became a goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche. Beyond hockey, Pavel served as a TV expert during this year’s World Championship and plans to remain involved in sports following his active playing career. Hi Pavel, welcome to the podcast.
Pavel Francouz: Hi Jirko, thank you very much for having me.
Jiří Koleňák: Pavel, I always start by asking my guests what brought them the greatest joy in recent days. What was it for you?
Pavel Francouz: I don't have to look far. Just yesterday, my sister and her family came over. We had been planning to meet for a long time, but someone's child was always sick. We went to a local Halloween event together. Seeing my daughter and her cousin instantly reconnect and play together brought me immense joy.
Jiří Koleňák: Family is a major source of happiness.
Pavel Francouz: Absolutely.
Jiří Koleňák: Going back to the beginning of your career, what was your first encounter with hockey? Do you remember what drew you to it?
Pavel Francouz: The biggest attraction was the success of the Czech national team around the turn of the millennium—whether it was Nagano 1998 or the 1996 World Championship gold in Vienna. We had a VHS tape of the 1996 tournament at home, and I watched it almost every single day.
Jiří Koleňák: I remember that clearly too. 1996 was an extraordinary year. I believe Robert Reichel was the captain. It was amazing watching the team rally together and overcome adversity to dominate opponents. Why did you decide to become a goaltender?
Pavel Francouz: It was ingrained in me. As an active child, my kindergarten teachers recommended sports to channel my energy, so I tried soccer, hockey, field hockey, karate, and gymnastics. In team sports, while everyone chased goals, I instinctively wanted to stay back and cover the team's rear in case things went wrong. When I started hockey, I played defense first, but I kept lingering near our goalie to help him. One day, I tried on the goalie gear, stepped into the net, and never left it.
Jiří Koleňák: Where did you start your hockey journey?
Pavel Francouz: In Plzeň, when I was nearly seven years old. Before that, I played street hockey or pond hockey when the lakes froze over. A friend from after-school care mentioned he started going to the rink, so I asked my dad to take me. I only had a helmet, ski gloves, skates, and a stick, while other kids were fully equipped. My dad bought me hockey gloves, sent me onto the ice, and I was in seventh heaven.
Jiří Koleňák: Was your career progression smooth, or did you have to fight for your spot early on?
Pavel Francouz: During my youth, hockey was purely fun. Parents back then didn't pressure kids the way some do today. My parents didn't play sports, so they were just glad I was active. I wasn't a standout player—I was average, but driven and eager to win. My potential crystallized in the U18 and U20 junior categories while playing for national youth teams. At 18, I made a fast leap to the senior team in Plzeň. After a great debut season, my second season faltered. Leaving Plzeň for Ústí nad Labem in the second-tier league was a tough choice, but playing there gave me vital game experience and helped me mature mentally for what lay ahead.
Jiří Koleňák: Were you highly competitive as a junior player?
Pavel Francouz: Yes. Just as responsibility drove me to become a goalie, competitiveness was built into my nature. I wanted to win everything, finish first, and was willing to work hard for it. That drive is something you are born with.
Jiří Koleňák: Where did you draw your motivation during long training sessions?
Pavel Francouz: As a child, it was pure, unadulterated love for the game—waking up excited for practice and living hockey 24/7. Later, when pushing for professional ranks, motivation came from realizing the goal was within reach and putting in the extra work required to get there.
Jiří Koleňák: Did you have a childhood idol?
Pavel Francouz: Dominik Hašek. After Nagano, he became a hero in the Czech Republic. I had his posters on my bedroom wall and dreamed of playing in the Olympics or the NHL. Later, I admired Tomáš Vokoun, looking up to him more as a personality than copying his specific playing style.
Jiří Koleňák: What would you be doing if you hadn't become a professional goalie?
Pavel Francouz: Good question. After returning to the Czech Extraliga with Litvínov in my early 20s, I signed a solid contract, but wanted a backup plan in case of injuries. I started taking flying lessons and earned my pilot's license. I enjoyed flying and taking in the view from above for years. Had hockey not worked out, I might be flying commercial jets today.
Jiří Koleňák: What were the key milestones on your journey from the Czech Extraliga to the NHL?
Pavel Francouz: Deep love for the sport and the determination to overcome obstacles were essential. The most decisive moment occurred when I decided to leave the KHL. I had established a strong reputation and received a very lucrative contract offer from SKA St. Petersburg—one of the league's top clubs. I turned it down to test my luck in North America, even though it meant starting in the AHL on Colorado's farm team.
Jiří Koleňák: What strengthened you most along that path?
Pavel Francouz: My setbacks. Looking back, adversity taught me the most and prepared me for climbing back to the top.
Jiří Koleňák: Is there a specific principle that helped you push through low points?
Pavel Francouz: Over time, dealing with injuries and failures taught me perspective. When I first arrived in Russia, I suffered a frustrating ankle injury. While recovering, I found a quote attributed to Warren Buffett: "Remember that the worst moments of your life often pave the way for the best moments of your life." I saved it on my phone and referred back to it often. When undergoing major hip surgeries near the end of my career, I stayed positive, knowing that after riding the rollercoaster down, the climb back up would be worth it.
Jiří Koleňák: What was it like stepping back onto the ice after hip surgery?
Pavel Francouz: Immediately after waking up from anesthesia in severe pain, I tried watching a hockey game on TV and had to turn it off—watching the goalie move hurt physically just by proxy. Had you asked me then if I'd ever play again, I would have doubted it. But as my recovery progressed, my excitement returned. Stepping back onto the ice felt like starting my career anew.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you manage mental resilience during crisis moments?
Pavel Francouz: My mental approach at 32 was completely different from when I was 20. Experience is key—you don't build resilience overnight. Staying open to learning from every situational failure shapes who you become. Achieving my career milestones gave me a mental safety net to rely on during tough times or injuries.
Jiří Koleňák: Was reaching the NHL a childhood dream or did it develop later?
Pavel Francouz: Both. As a child, I had NHL goalie posters on my wall and imagined playing there. But as my career developed, the NHL felt distant because I went undrafted. I focused on making the Czech Extraliga, then the national team, and later the KHL. After playing in the Olympics and World Championship, I realized the NHL was within reach again, rekindled that dream, and eventually made it happen.
Jiří Koleňák: What did playing for the national team mean to you?
Pavel Francouz: Representing your home country alongside domestic rivals turned teammates creates a special bond and atmosphere. I cherish every tournament I played for the national team. While my best finishes were fourth place at the World Championship and Pyeongchang Olympics, representing my country was incredible.
Jiří Koleňák: What was the Olympic experience like?
Pavel Francouz: The Olympics are a unique celebration of sports. Sharing the Olympic Village with athletes from various disciplines, dining alongside them, and watching them compete was unforgettable.
Jiří Koleňák: What was it like transitioning to the TV expert chair for the World Championship?
Pavel Francouz: Challenging, especially since I played alongside many of the current players a year ago and consider them friends. I avoided hyper-critical commentary because as a player, I disliked studio pundits overanalyzing minor errors. Working alongside Jakub Voráček, my goal was to bring positive energy and offer insightful perspective to viewers watching nationwide.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you compare domestic European leagues to the NHL?
Pavel Francouz: The NHL is unmatched—it is the world's premier league featuring elite global talent operating at extreme speed and skill. Meanwhile, the Czech Extraliga has raised its quality significantly, partly due to top Czech players returning from the KHL.
Jiří Koleňák: What was the biggest adjustment transitioning to North American hockey?
Pavel Francouz: The smaller, narrower ice surface. The game is faster and more direct, with constant shots from the blue line and heavy net-front traffic. I loved the fast-paced, high-action environment. Off the ice, traveling on private jets, staying in five-star hotels, and touring North America was an amazing perk.
Jiří Koleňák: How did your retirement decision come about?
Pavel Francouz: My body made the decision for me, and for the first time, my mind agreed to listen. Previously, I pushed through injuries using treatments, injections, or medication. Winning the Stanley Cup with Colorado fulfilled my ultimate hockey dream. Reaching that summit allowed me to step back and acknowledge that my body could no longer handle the physical toll.
Jiří Koleňák: How did you process that transition?
Pavel Francouz: I took time to ensure it was the right choice before confiding in my wife, father, family, and agent. My agent emphasized that health comes first and that life continues long after sports, which I deeply appreciated.
Jiří Koleňák: What did your goaltending career teach you for everyday life?
Pavel Francouz: Poise and a strong sense of responsibility. Living and breathing hockey for twenty years while traveling the world shaped who I am today.
Jiří Koleňák: How do you plan to apply those experiences moving forward?
Pavel Francouz: I want to guide athletes on the mental side of sports. Having walked that path, I can empathize with what players experience during challenging moments. I am pursuing further education in this domain with humility, taking slow, deliberate steps as I adjust to life beyond professional competition.
Jiří Koleňák: What interests you outside of sports?
Pavel Francouz: Self-development, psychology, and philosophy. I recently read Who We Are, a book exploring human consciousness, existence, and the universe. Exploring these topics brings me deep personal satisfaction.
Jiří Koleňák: What legacy would you like to leave in the hockey world?
Pavel Francouz: My story shows that an unconventional path is possible. At 21, I was playing in the second-tier Czech league, yet I eventually won a Stanley Cup. I hope my journey inspires young players facing obstacles, injuries, or doubts to persevere.
Jiří Koleňák: What advice would you give your younger self or aspiring young athletes?
Pavel Francouz: Enjoy the ride, and play with your whole heart. Love for the game is the most powerful driving force in sports.
Jiří Koleňák: Thank you, Pavel, for joining us and sharing your inspiring journey.
Pavel Francouz: Thank you very much for having me.
Jiří Koleňák: To our viewers, thank you for watching, and see you next time with more inspiring guests!
