Former New York Rangers defenseman Tomas Kloucek tragically passed away on Sunday following a skiing accident, as confirmed by his wife. He was 45 years old.
No further details were provided regarding his sudden passing.
“Yesterday, after a devastating accident, my husband, my everything, my love, and the father of our children, Tomas Kloucek, left us forever,” said Barbara Klouckova. “All those who knew him deserve to know. Please respect our privacy as we cope with this immense loss.”
Rangers legend Mark Messier shared his condolences, describing Kloucek as “a great kid with a great attitude and a gentle soul,” adding, “Horrible news,” in a text to Larry Brooks of the New York Post.
In tribute to Kloucek, the Rangers held a moment of silence before their game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.
A 6-foot-3, left-handed defenseman from Prague, Kloucek was drafted by the Rangers in the fifth round of the 1998 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut during the 2000-01 season, recording five points (one goal) and averaging about 16 minutes of ice time over 43 games. Unfortunately, a season-ending knee injury (torn ACL and MCL) cut his season short.
After recovering from his injury, Kloucek played 52 games the following season, but he was traded to Nashville in the 2002-03 campaign after failing to secure a roster spot with the Rangers. He finished his NHL career with the Predators and Atlanta Thrashers before ending his playing days in Europe.
