Aleà ¡ PÃÂà ¡a (born 2 January 1977) is a Czech former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played 53 games in the National Hockey League with the Edmonton Oilers and New York Rangers during the 2001âÂÂ02 and 2002âÂÂ03 seasons. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1993 to 2018, was mainly spent in the Czech Extraliga. He was chosen as an over-age selection in the ninth round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, 272nd overall, by the Edmonton Oilers.
After spending most of his professional career with his hometown team of Pardubice, PÃÂà ¡a made his North America debut with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2001. He saw spot duty with the Oilers his first year, playing in only two games, but the following season, he remained with the Oilers until the trade deadline. At the deadline, PÃÂà ¡a was shipped to the New York Rangers as part of a package that brought back Radek Dvoà Âák.
PÃÂà ¡a played just three games for the Rangers to finish the year, and signed with Severstal Cherepovets of the Russian Superleague (RSL) in 2003âÂÂ04, a team he remained with throughout the 2004âÂÂ05 NHL lockout.
PÃÂà ¡a played the 2005âÂÂ06 season with Khimik Moscow Oblast of the RSL, and was one of the team's top players, leading all Mytishi Khimik defenceman in points.