Career
Although not a prolific goal scorer Juzda built a reputation as one of hockey"s hardest hitters. He was called up by the New York Rangers during the 1940-1941 season but spent a good part of the year with their AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia Rockets. He appeared in 45 games with the Rangers during the 1941-1942 season.
Juzda put his National Hockey League career on hold when he volunteered for World World War II service with the Royal Canadian Air Force (Royal Canadian Air Force).
He maintained his connection with hockey by playing for the R.C.A.F. hockey team in the Winnipeg National Defense Hockey League (WNDHL). At the conclusion of the war, Juzda was discharged from military service and he returned to hockey full-time.
He joined the New Haven Ramblers of the AHL and was re-signed by the New York Rangers in time for the 1946 season. He would appear in another 137 games with the Rangers before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a multi-player deal in time for the 1947 season.
He appeared in a total of 211 games with the Leafs.
He left the National Hockey League after the 1952 season. Juzda played for the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL in 1952 and earned an AHL 2nd team All-Star selection. The Maroons toured Czechoslovakia where hockey veterans still refer to a bone-rattling body check as a “Juzda”.
Also in the mid-fifties Juzda had brief stops with Intermediate hockey clubs, the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Pine Falls Paper Kings.
While Juzda officially retired from hockey after 1963, he played old-timers’ hockey well into his 70’son Juzda coached hockey from levels midget to senior.
He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1992. He died on February 17, 2008.