Dušan Žiška, former Slovak hockey player and coach, dies at 53

Dušan Žiška, a former ice hockey player and coach, has passed away at the age of 53 following a battle with cancer. He died on June 18, 2002.

Žiška had a notable career as a player, winning Czechoslovak championship titles with Jihlava and Slovan Bratislava. He transitioned into coaching, managing several extra league clubs and serving as an assistant coach for the Slovak U20 national team. He also worked alongside Jozef Golonka as an assistant for the senior national team during the 1996 World Championships and the 1997 World Cup.

In the early stages of the 2001/02 season, Žiška was coaching Nitra. Despite undergoing surgery for colon cancer, he attempted to continue his professional involvement by working as a consultant for Senica. However, he was unable to accept a coaching position for the following season due to his declining health and eventually lost his battle with the disease.