Former New York Rangers defenseman tragically passed away on Sunday following a skiing accident, as confirmed by his wife.
A former fifth-round pick by the Rangers, was 45 years old. No further details were provided regarding his sudden passing.
“Yesterday, after a grievous accident, my husband, my universe, my love, the father of our children, and your friend Tomas Kloucek left us forever,” his wife, Barbara Klouckova, shared. “All of you who knew him deserve to know. Please respect our privacy as we navigate this immense grief.”
Rangers legend Mark Messier reflected on Kloucek’s character, telling the New York Post’s Larry Brooks via text, “He was a great kid. Great attitude. Gentle soul. Horrible news.”
To honor Kloucek, the Rangers held a moment of silence before their game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.
Born in Prague, the 6-foot-3, left-handed defenseman was drafted by the Rangers in 1998 at 19 years old. He made his NHL debut during the 2000-01 season, recording five points (one goal) and averaging around 16 minutes of ice time in 43 games before suffering a season-ending ACL and MCL tear.
Kloucek returned the next season and appeared in 52 games. However, after failing to secure a lineup spot at the start of the 2002-03 campaign, the Rangers traded him to the Nashville Predators in exchange for goaltender Mike Dunham.
He went on to play three more NHL seasons with the Predators and Atlanta Thrashers before finishing his career in Europe.
