Petr Klima passes away at 58

[Chet Manley]

Hopefully he had a good life. He had all of the ingredients for one and was admired by many.

 

[Czechboy]

Peter and Anton Stastny defected in 1980

Slovak legends! Not Czech ones.

 

[Czechboy]

Imagine a 32-goal scorer, who doesn't have an atrocious, albatross contract, being traded for future considerations.

Eerily similar is Detroit Red Wing's and Vrana this year.

 

[Czechboy]

Father of twins. They played for the Knights. Didn't make NHL but went back to Extraliga (the Czech league). The basic rule is that if you want to play for another national team you must have citizenship and have played in their domestic league for 2 years. His boys can now play for a communist free Czech team. He won't get to see that unfortunately. I hope they get in a game or two on the EHT tour next year.

58 and father of twins is way too young. He was in a lot more interviews and such lately. Seemed to be quite happy from his interviews with Czech media.

 

[BMann]

58 is not old. I'm curious what caused his death.

He dabbled in a couple of addictions unfortunately that also affected his playing career. RIP.

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

Partied with Klima at the infamous Goose Loonies incident. Awesome night.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

The whole backstory to that goal was Petr Klima getting benched in the 2nd period, and not allowed back in the game until 3OT. Meaning he spent an entire game of playing time just sitting there watching like a backup goalie. Including two OT periods, in the Finals, in Boston Garden. It must have been excruciating and humiliating.

By 1:30am, everyone else was dead on their skates. Klima was the only fresh player left.

That’s sweet. I can just imagine sitting there watching everyone exhaust themselves, just chomping at the bit. Then coach gives you a go and you’re an absolute animal out there.

Anyways, hope he went peacefully and everyone around him is as well as can be. Too young, life ain’t fair.

 

[TopShelfYzerman]

RIP, Redwings organization were able to pull him away from the communist (Czechoslovakia) and bring him and his gf safely to the comfort of US where he could utilize his skills and play for a great organization. His addictions led to a shorter career path but overall its kind of a cinderella story. His transfromation from a Czech to a NHL player where the Detroit organization pulled strings to get him to come and play for them.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Sources say he had been battling diabetes for years and his health had declined greatly in the months leading up to his passing.