Cechmanek, who was 29 at the time, was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round of the 2000 NHL draft. Between 2000 and 2003, he played for three seasons with Philadelphia.
With 35 victories at the end of his first season in 2001, Cechmanek was nominated for an All-Star team and placed second in the Vezina Trophy voting.
Together with Flyers goalie Robert Esche, he went on to win the William M. Jennings Trophy in 2003 after the two had allowed the fewest goals in the NHL. In the 2003 Eastern Conference Final, which lasted seven games, Cechmanek assisted the Flyers in defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs and Hall of Famer Ed Belfour throughout the tournament.
Throughout his three seasons with the Flyers, Cechmanek finished second in the NHL in goals against average during the regular season.
The goaltender competed for the Los Angeles Kings in his final NHL season, 2003–04. With a 110-64-28 overall record, a.919 save percentage, and a 2.08 goals-against average, he concluded his NHL career.
Cechmanek played professionally in Czechia, Germany, and Sweden after leaving the NHL, and he retired at the end of the 2007–08 season.
As backup to Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek, Cechmanek represented Czechia in the 1998 and 2002 Olympics, helping the nation win gold in Nagano, Japan, in 1998.
Between 1995 and 2007, he also competed for his nation in seven World Championships. In 2000, Cechmanek led the team to victory in eight games and the gold medals in Russia.
Roman Jr., Jakub, and Katerina are Cechmanek’s surviving children, according to Bill Meltzer of PhiladelphiaFlyers.com.
