Tomáš Klouček, a former pro hockey defenseman who played 141 NHL games, died as the result of a ski accident on Sunday in his native Czechia at age 45, according to multiple Czech media reports.

The news was confirmed in an Instagram post by his wife, according to Hokej.cz.

“We were hit by sad news – Tomáš Klouček died following a tragic accident,” Oceláři Třinec, one of his former teams, tweeted on X. “The tough defenseman played a total of 90 games for us. We wish his family and loved ones a lot of strength. Our sincere condolences.”

According to reports, Klouček skied into a power pole on the edge of the slope and died from his injuries on the spot. The incident occurred in Špindlerův Mlýn, a popular ski resort in the north of the country near the border with Poland.

Klouček was born in Prague and grew up playing for local club Slavia. He was drafted in 1998 in the fifth round, 151st overall, by the New York Rangers, then went overseas to play for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the QMJHL.

Between 2000 and 2006, Klouček played 141 NHL games for the Rangers, Nashville Predators and Atlanta Thrashers, scoring two goals and adding eight assists for 10 points with 250 penalty minutes. He spent the rest of the time playing for those teams AHL affiliates in Hartford, Milwaukee and Chicago.

A large, physical defenseman, Klouček was 6’4” and weighed 245 lbs.

From 2007 until his retirement in 2017, Klouček played in Czechia, in the KHL and in Slovakia, finishing with his last two seasons for Epinal in France.

Canadian defenseman Éric Gélinas, 33, has agreed to a one-year contract extension with Lukko Rauma, the Finnish Liiga club announced on Monday.

Gélinas joined the club in December and produced 17 points in 21 regular-season games. The 6-foot-4, 227-pound rearguard also had 12-penalty minutes and was a plus-2.

“One of the biggest reasons to continue here is that we have a really strong team,” said Gélinas. “When you reach a certain age, winning championships is what you play for.”

Indeed, Lukko is one of the top contenders to win it all in Finland this season after finishing first overall in the regular season. Lukko ended the regular season on a six-game heater, edging out Ilves Tampere for top spot by one point.

“In addition, the organization welcomed me with open arms, which has been great of course,” he continued. “We have a great atmosphere in the locker room and the chemistry works great, so the decision to continue with Lukko was quite easy.”

“Gélly came to Rauma in really good shape, and it didn’t take long for him to play when he was at full strength on the ice,” Lukko sports director Kalle Sahlstedt said about the defenseman’s mid-season arrival. “He immediately played at an extremely high level.”

Ex-Penguins Prospect Off To Hot Start In Finland Finnish defenseman Niclas Almari was the Pittsburgh Penguins fifth-round choice in 2016 and had three stints with their AHL farm team in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, but has played for Lukko Rauma in Finland’s Liiga since early 2022. 

Born in Vanier, Ont. and raised in Saint-Jean, Que., Gélinas played junior hockey for the QMJHL’s Lewiston MAINEiacs, Chicoutimi Sagueneens and Saint John Sea Dogs, winning a Memorial Cup with the latter in 2011.

Chosen in the second round, 54th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Gélinas played 189 NHL games for the Devils and Colorado Avalanche between 2013 and 2017, recording 55 points and 92 penalty minutes. He was also NHL property of the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes.

Other than a nine-game AHL stint in 2021, Gélinas has played in Europe since 2018, with stops in Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Gélinas has not played since Feb. 12 due to an undisclosed injury. Thanks to its finish in the standings, Lukko has a bye through the first round of the playoffs and will open at home in the quarterfinals next Wednesday, March 26 against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. Also to be determined is exactly when Gélinas will return to the lineup.

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