Hlinka began playing ice hockey at the age of four[citation needed]. When he was fourteen, HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga offered him a chance on their junior team and he accepted.[citation needed]\n', '

From 1994 to 2007, Hlinka mostly played for HC Sparta Praha in the Extraliga, scoring 110 goals and winning the Czech Championship four times (2000, 2002, 2006 and 2007). From 2002 to 2006 he played for three seasons with Kloten Flyers in the Swiss Nationalliga A and one season with Ak Bars Kazan in the now defunct Russian Super League.\n', '

On June 1, 2007, Hlinka signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL. He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche on October 3, 2007, during the season opener, scoring his first NHL points 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. After a bright start Hlinka\'s opportunities with the Avalanche diminished as the season wore on, however, he finished the 2007–08 season with a modest 28 points in 63 games.\n', '

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