What happened to Petr Klima? How did He Die?

NHL fans worried about what happened to Petr Klima, we will take a look at his life and career and examine the circumstances surrounding Petr Klima's untimely death at 58.

by Ushapriyanga

Updated May 05, 2023

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What happened to Petr Klima? How did He Die?
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What Happened to Petr Klima?

Petr Klima, a Czech forward who won the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers in 1990, has passed away at the age of 58. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Klima started his career with HC Litvinov in the 1981-82 season before moving to the NHL in 1985. He played for the Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as the Oilers.

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In his 13-season NHL career, Klima scored 313 regular season goals and added 260 assists, and 28 goals with 24 assists in 95 playoff games. The NHL released a statement expressing their condolences to Klima's family, friends, and fans, and described him as a Czech legend who helped the Oilers win the 1990 Stanley Cup and scored a memorable triple-overtime winner in Game 1 of the Final.

How did Petr Klima Die?

Petr Klima, a Czech forward who won the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers in 1990, has passed away at the age of 58. The announcement was made by HC Litvinov, his former team in the Czech Republic where he began his career, and Kadan, where he previously served as the general manager. No information was provided regarding the cause of his death.

Petr Klima, a former NHL player and Stanley Cup winner with the Edmonton Oilers in 1990, has passed away at 58 years old. The announcement came from HC Litvinov, the team where he started his career, and Kadan, where he previously worked as a general manager, but no cause of death was revealed.

Klima left communist Czechoslovakia in 1985, playing for five teams in his 13-season NHL career, scoring 313 regular-season goals, and contributing to 260 assists. He also had 28 goals and 24 assists in 95 playoff games.

Klima's memorable triple-overtime winner in Game 1 of the 1990 Final helped the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, and he was praised by the NHL and the Oilers for his contributions to the team's success. Klima's two sons are currently playing in the top Czech league, while he represented his country in 28 games, scoring ten times.

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Who is Petr Klima Wife?

Petr Klima was a respected and attractive man who was popular among many women. Nonetheless, he was in a romantic relationship with his girlfriend, Irina, and according to trustworthy sources, the couple had not tied the knot before the ice hockey player's unexpected passing.

Petr Klima's twin sons, Kelly and Kevin, followed in their father's footsteps and became professional ice hockey players. They signed one-year contracts with the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League in 2018. However, at the time of their father's passing, Kelly was playing in the Czech Republic. Klima passed away at the age of 58 on May 4, 2023, at his residence in Chomutov.

Who is Petr Klima?

Petr Klíma was a Czech ice hockey forward who played for various teams in the National Hockey League, including the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He also played in the Czech Extraliga for two seasons and was drafted by the Red Wings in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.

Klíma's move to North America was orchestrated by the Red Wings, who were eager to bring him to the NHL. Despite rumors that they paid off Czechoslovak authorities to allow him to leave his native country, Klíma was able to defect to North America in 1985 without much resistance from Czechoslovak hockey authorities.

This made him the first Czech player to defect directly to a U.S.-based team, rather than to one of the NHL's Canadian teams that had previously smuggled several Czechs and Slovaks out of Europe. After ditching his national teammates during a team meal in West Germany, Klíma joined Wings executives to be brought to North America.

With the help of U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese and U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lowell Jensen, Klíma was able to gain refugee status and enter the United States.

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How did Petr Klima Die?

Petr Klima, who is remembered for scoring the game-winning goal in triple overtime in Game 1 of the 1990 NHL final, has passed away at the age of 58. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. Klima scored a total of 28 goals in 95 NHL playoff games, with his most memorable goal coming in the '90 Cup final.

After being benched for much of the game by Oilers coach John Muckler, Klima scored on just his second shift of overtime, securing the victory for the Oilers in the longest game in Stanley Cup final history. The Oilers went on to win the series in five games, claiming their fifth and most recent Stanley Cup title. The Oilers confirmed Klima's death on their Twitter account and extended their condolences to his family and loved ones.



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What Happened to Petr Klima - FAQs

1. Who was Petr Klima?

Petr Klima was a Czech professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams, including the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

2. When was Petr Klima born?

Petr Klima was born on December 23, 1964.

3. When did Petr Klima start his professional hockey career?

Klima started his professional hockey career in 1981 when he joined CHZ Litvinov in the Czechoslovak Extraliga.

4. How many NHL playoff games did Petr Klima play in?

Petr Klima played in 95 NHL playoff games throughout his career.

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