Former NHL star and Stanley Cup champion Petr Klima has died at the age of 58.
Klima was found dead, unexpectedly, in his home in the city of Chomutov in his native Czechia, the Czech Ice Hockey Federation confirmed.
Klima is perhaps best remembered for scoring the game-winning goal in triple overtime of Game 1 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Final to give the Oilers a 3-2 win over the Bruins.
The Oilers would go on to win the championship in five games.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Oilers alum Petr Klima & extend our condolences to his family & all loved ones,” the Oilers tweeted.
A cause of death is not yet known.
“The NHL mourns the passing of Czech legend Petr Klima, who scored 313 goals across 13 NHL seasons,” the NHL said in a statement.
“Klima helped the Oilers win the 1990 Stanley Cup while scoring a memorable triple-overtime winner in Game 1 of the Final. Our sympathies are with his family, friends and many fans.”
In 1985, Klima became the first hockey player to defect from the Communist Czech Republic to North America, as the Red Wings concocted a scheme to get him out of the country.
“He [Klima] was going across the border,” former Red Wings scout Ken Holland said years back, describing the defection, according to the Detroit News.
“[Wings executive Nick] Polano was over there [in the Czech Republic] and he made some contacts and ultimately these people got Klima to defect. So they put Klima in a fake trunk and they drove across the border.”
Klima scored 313 goals and logged 260 assists in a career that spanned from 1985-99, starting with the Red Wings before continuing on for the Oilers, Lightning, Kings, and Penguins.
At the conclusion of his career, he also returned to Edmonton and Detroit for parts of one season apiece.
“The Detroit Red Wings are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Petr Klima, who passed away at the age of 58 in Chomutov, Czechia,” the organization said in a statement.
“The Red Wings organization offers its heartfelt condolences to the Klima family during this difficult time.”