McKendree University Athletics

Lubos Bartecko is a native of Kezmarok, Slovakia, and brings a wealth of experience to the Bearcats coaching staff. He has enjoyed an exceptionally successful playing career including five seasons in the National Hockey League, two Olympic appearances (2006, 2010), gold and silver medals in the IIHF World Championships representing Slovakia (2002, 2000), as well as numerous years playing professional hockey internationally.  
 
During his five year NHL career he totaled 257 games and 111 points (46 G, 65 A), playing with the St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Thrashers. During his three seasons with the Blues, Bartecko amassed 68 points (26 G, 42 A) and was an integral part of the 1999-00 President’s Trophy winning team alongside his fellow countrymen Pavol Demitra and Michal Handzus.
 
 “As a player, I was always a leader and had a lot of involvement with my coaches, so making the transition from player to coach is always what I envisioned as the next level of my career” said Bartecko. He has retired from playing hockey and set his focus on coaching. During the summer of 2016, he worked with fellow Bearcat coach Derek Pallardy and former St. Louis Blues teammate Jamie Rivers at Synergy Hockey Camp in St. Louis.