Jiri was obtained by Vancouver in the summer of 1981 from the Czech National Team along with teammate Ivan Hlinka in a veritable ǃ?cloak-and-daggerǃ? deal engineered by Canuck GM Jake Milford. In his inaugural NHL campaign (1981-82), he helped the Canucks to a playoff berth but had to watch from the sidelines due to a broken ankle as his team went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals. He played five full seasons for the Canucks scoring 17 goals and 101 assists in 256 games. ǃ?Boobsǃ?, as heǃÙs nicknamed, is the only European member of the Canucks Alumni team and, at age 55, remains a tireless skater. Jiri currently works for a paint company and resides in Tsawassen. His son, Jiri Slegr, has enjoyed a lengthy career as an NHL defenceman.