BREAKING: Stanley Cup Champion Passes Away, Leaving a Profound Legacy in Hockey

It is a sad day in the hockey world all over the globe. A well-known Stanley Cup Champion, who left a lasting impact on the NHL has passed away. Petr Klima was just 58 years old.

Sources from the Czech Republic only state that Klima's body was discovered in his home. No cause of death has been given.

Klima played for several teams throughout his NHL career. He started in the mid-80s with the Detroit Red Wings after ditching the Czechoslovak national team during a practice session in West Germany and hiding out for several days with two officials from the Wings. His defection marked just the second time a player from Czechoslovakia had left the country to play hockey in North America. The first were the Stastny brothers.


Klima played four seasons with the Red Wings before being traded to Edmonton, where he won a Stanley Cup in 1990. Before his departure from the Wings, Klima was suspended by the team for excessive drinking and behavior that came with it. Klima returned after a few months, offering a heartfelt apology to teammates during practice for his antics. With Edmonton, Klima scored a goal in triple overtime in game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins. It ended the longest game in Stanley Cup final history.

Besides Detroit and Edmonton, Klima also suited up for Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, and the LA Kings. He would also return to both the Red Wings and Oilers before his NHL career ended. In 786 regular season NHL games, Klima scored 313 goals and 573 points.