Early career
Hlinka began playing ice hockey at the age of four. When he was fourteen, HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga offered him a chance on their junior team and he accepted.
Hlinka began playing ice hockey at the age of four. When he was fourteen, HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga offered him a chance on their junior team and he accepted.
Professional career
Up to the 2007/08 season he had mostly played for HC Sparta Praha; however, he has had some short stints for the Kloten Flyers and Aq Bars Kazan. He has scored 140 goals in the Czech Extraliga, and won the league championship 4 times with HC Sparta Praha (2000, 2002, 2006, 2007).
On June 1, 2007, Hlinka signed a one year contract with the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL. On October 3, 2007, during the Avalanche season opener, he scored his first NHL point as part of a 2-assist game against the Dallas Stars. He scored his first NHL goal on October 23, 2007 against the Edmonton Oilers.
International Play
Hlinka has represented the Czech Republic 6 times in the Men's World Ice Hockey Championships (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006,2007) including a championship in 2001.
