Ex-NHL defenseman Tomas Kloucek dead at 45 after skiing accident

Former NHL defenseman Tomas Kloucek has died pursuing a skiing mishap successful Czechia. 

Kloucek was 45. 

Kloucek’s wife, Barbara Klouckova confirmed her husband’s decease connected Instagram Monday. 

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New York Rangers defensemen Tomas Kloucek (22) successful enactment against St. Louis Blues close helping Scott Young (48) astatine Madison Square Garden.  (Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK)

"Yesterday, aft a grievous accident, my husband, my universe, my love, dada of our children and your person Tomas Kloucek abandoned america forever," Klouckova wrote. "All of you who were astir him merit to know. Please respect our privateness and grief we are grappling with close now."

The NHL Alumni Association besides released a connection connected the tragic death. 

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"A defenceman, the New York Rangers selected Tomas with the 131st prime successful the 1998 NHL Entry Draft aft 3 seasons with his hometown HC Slavia Praha of the Czechia U20.

"We nonstop our deepest condolences to Tomas’ friends, family, and erstwhile teammates during this incredibly hard time."

Player Tomas Kloucek of the Nashville Predators. (Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)

As mentioned, the Rangers drafted Kloucek successful 1998, and helium yet broke into the league astatine property 20 for 43 games during the 2000-01 season. He scored 1 extremity and dished retired 4 assists that season. 

The Rangers held a infinitesimal of soundlessness for Kloucek earlier they took connected the Calgary Flames astatine Madison Square Garden connected Tuesday night. 

Kloucek played 95 games from 2000-02 with the Rangers earlier helium was dealt to the Nashville Predators earlier the 2002-03 campaign. But helium played conscionable 3 games that play owed to a genu injury. 

Kloucek ended up starting the 2003-04 play with the Predators earlier being dealt again, this clip to the then-Atlanta Thrashers. 

Through 5 NHL seasons (141 games), Kloucek totaled 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points. He would aboriginal instrumentality to his autochthonal Czechia aft the 2006-07 season, wherever helium continued to play with Slavia Praha, HC Zlin, Bili Tygri Liberec and Ocelari Trinec. 

Atlanta's Tomas Kloucek (5) is shown successful a crippled against Washington connected Saturday, March 20, 2004. (George Bridges/MCT/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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Kloucek would implicit his vocation successful France’s Ligue Magnus during the 2016-17 campaign.  

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