Robert Schnabel
Robert Schnabel (born November 10, 1978 in Prague, Czechoslovakia) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the New York Islanders in round 3, #79 overall, of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and again by the Phoenix Coyotes in round 5, #129 overall, in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the HC Fassa in 2011/12 before moving to England to play for Manchester Phoenix in the English Premier Ice Hockey League (EPL).
Schnabel is a product of Slavia Praha in the Czech league. After several seasons in North America, including 22 NHL games for the Nashville Predators, Schnabel returned to Europe to represent first his hometown team in Prague and then HIFK in the Finnish SM-liiga. In January 2007 Schnabel's contract with HIFK was terminated upon arrival of Billy Tibbetts, as the SM-liiga only allows a team to dress four foreign-born players per game, and Tibbets was HIFK's fifth foreign player. Schnabel was subsequently signed by Jokerit of the same league. He played for HC Mlada Boleslav on loan from HC Rabat Kladno.
During his 2 seasons at the Manchester Phoenix, Schnabel won an EPL League Championship winners medal as well as both winners and runners-up medals in the Playoffs. In 2013/14 he was named to the EPL's First All Star Team by Ice Hockey Journalists.
His retirement from hockey was announced via the Manchester Phoenix on 7 April 2014, the day after Phoenix lost 5-3 in the EPL Playoff Final to Basingstoke Bison at the Skydome Arena in Coventry.