As a youth, Schwarz played in the 2000 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a team from Chomutov. He played junior ice hockey in his native Czech Republic with HC Sparta Praha.[citation needed] He made his debut at the senior level with Sparta Praha playing one game in the Czech Extraliga in 2002–03. The following season, he joined the Extraliga full-time at seventeen-years-old and played between three teams – HC Plzeň, HC Oceláři Třinec and Sparta Praha. That off-season, Schwarz was drafted 17th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.[citation needed]\n', '

Upon being drafted, he moved to North America to play major junior in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Vancouver Giants. He posted a 2.67 GAA and a winning record before moving back to the Czech Republic the following season to continue to play for Sparta Praha.[citation needed]\n', '

In 2006–07, he began playing for the Peoria Rivermen, the Blues\' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. He was called up that season and played in his first NHL game on December 12, 2006, against the Chicago Blackhawks. Schwarz made 21 saves on 24 shots as the Blues lost 3–2. At 20 years old, he became the third youngest goaltender in Blues history to play in a game.[citation needed]\n', '

Return to Marek Schwarz Autograph Profile