Pavol Demitra was a
Slovak professional
ice hockey player died from a plane crash he was 36.. He played sixteen seasons in the
National Hockey League (NHL), two in the
Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League (CFIHL)/
Slovak Extraliga and one in the
Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Known as an offensive player, Demitra was a
first- or second-line forward throughout his career.
(29 November 1974 – 7 September 2011)
After a season with
HC Dukla Trenčín in the CFIHL, Demitra was selected 227th overall in the
1993 NHL Entry Draft by the
Ottawa Senators. He subsequently left Slovakia to join the Senators organization and played three seasons between the NHL and the
American Hockey League with Ottawa's minor league affiliate, the
PEI Senators. Demitra began the
1996–97 season in a contract holdout with the Senators, resulting in him being traded to the
St. Louis Blues in November 1996. After spending the majority of his first season with St. Louis organization in the
International Hockey League, he secured a regular roster spot with the Blues in
1996–97. Demitra spent his most successful seasons with St. Louis, being named to three
NHL All-Star Games (
1999,
2000 and
2002) and winning the
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2000. He achieved the 30-goal mark three times and the 90-point mark once with the Blues. Due to the
2004–05 NHL lockout,
Demitra returned to HC Dukla Trenčín for one season. Upon returning to
the NHL the following year, he signed as a free agent with the
Los Angeles Kings. After one year with Los Angeles, he was traded to the
Minnesota Wild, where he played on the team's top line with winger
Marián Gáborík. In July 2008, he became an unrestricted free agent and signed with the
Vancouver Canucks.
Demitra left the NHL after a two-year stint with the Canucks, joining
Lokomotiv Yarolsavl of the Kontinental Hockey League. Demitra spent the
entire
2010–11 KHL season with Lokomotiv, netting 18 goals and 43 assists in 54 games. On September 7, 2011, the eve of the
2011-12 KHL season, a plane carrying the Lokomotiv players and coaching staff
crashed shortly after takeoff. 44 passengers, including Demitra, died as a result.
[1][2][3]
In international competition, Demitra began his career with
Czechoslovakia. He won a gold medal at the
1992 IIHF European U18 Championship and a bronze medal at the
1993 IIHF World U20 Championship. After the
country split in 1993, Demitra began competing for
Slovakia. Beginning in
1996, he played in six
IIHF World Championships, winning a bronze medal in
2003 and captaining his country in
2011. In
1996 and
2004, Demitra participated in the NHL-sanctioned
World Cup. He was also a three-time
Olympian and played his first tournament in
2002.
Four years later, he captained Slovakia and in
2010, where he led all scorers in points and was named to the tournament's All-Star Team.
Czechoslovakia
Demitra began playing at the men's level with ZTS Dubnica in
Czechoslovakia's second-tier league; he recorded 23 points (13 goals and
10 assists) over 28 games. The following season, Demitra joined
HC Dukla Trenčín of the premier
Czechoslovak Extraliga in 1992–93, where he scored 11 goals and 28 points in 46 games. After the season, Demitra was drafted by the
Ottawa Senators in the ninth round, 227th overall in the
1993 NHL Entry Draft. He came to be considered one of the best draft steals in NHL history.
[4]
Ottawa Senators
Demitra began the
1993–94 season with the
Ottawa Senators, and in his first
NHL game on 9 October 1993, Demtira scored on
St. Louis Blues goaltender
Curtis Joseph
for his first ever NHL goal and point in a 7–5 loss. He played in 12
games for Ottawa during the season, scoring a goal and two points. Most
of the
1993–94 was spent with the
Prince Edward Island Senators of the
AHL, as Demitra had 18 goals and 41 points in 41 games for the team.
Demitra spent most of the
1994–95
with PEI, where in 61 games, Demitra had 26 goals and 74 points to
finish third in team scoring. In five playoff games, Demitra had seven
assists. Demitra also spent time with Ottawa, as he scored four goals
and seven points in 16 games.
He began the
1995–96
season with PEI, as in 48 games, Demitra put up 28 goals and 81 points,
which earned him a promotion back to the NHL. With Ottawa, Demitra had
seven goals and 17 points in 31 games.
To start the
1996–97 season, Demtira was a contract hold-out with Ottawa. He played a game with
HC Dukla Trenčín of the
Slovak Extraliga, getting a goal and two points, before joining the
Las Vegas Thunder of the
IHL.
With the Thunder, Demitra had eight goals and 21 points in 22 games. On
27 November 1996, the Senators parted ways with Demitra, as Ottawa
traded him to the
St. Louis Blues for
Christer Olsson.
[5]
St. Louis Blues
The
St. Louis Blues assigned Demitra to the
Grand Rapids Griffins of the
IHL,
where in 42 games, Demitra had 20 goals and 50 points. He was called up
to the Blues, and played his first game with the club on 17 March 1997,
getting no points in a 3–2 loss to the
Phoenix Coyotes. Demitra scored his first two goals with St. Louis on 3 April 1997, scoring twice against
Tommy Salo in a 5–5 tie with the
New York Islanders.
He finished the season appearing in eight games with St. Louis, scoring
three goals. Demitra made his NHL playoff debut on 16 April 1997,
recording his first playoff point, an assist, in the Blues 2–0 win over
the
Detroit Red Wings. On 22 April 1997, Demitra scored his first playoff goal, beating Red Wings goaltender
Mike Vernon, and added two assists in a 4–0 win over Detroit. Overall, Demitra had a goal and four points in six playoff games.
Demitra made the NHL full-time in
1997–98,
as he played in 61 games with St. Louis, scoring 22 goals and 52 points
to finish fifth in team scoring. In 10 playoff games, Demitra had three
goals and six points.
The
1998–99
was a break-out season for Demitra, as he finished tenth in NHL scoring
with 89 points, as he scored 37 goals and added 52 assists in 82 games.
Demitra appeared in the
1999 NHL All-Star Game held in
Tampa Bay, Florida,
scoring a goal for the World team in a 8–6 loss to North America. In
the playoffs, Demitra added five goals and nine points in 13 games.
Demitra continued his success in
1999–2000, as he scored 27 goals and 75 points in 71 games to lead the Blues in scoring once again. Demitra played in the
2000 NHL All-Star Game held in
Toronto, Ontario, where he scored two goals in a 9–4 World victory over North America. Demitra also scored his first career
hat trick, scoring three goals against the
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
on 12 February 2000 in a 6–3 Blues victory. Demitra suffered a season
ending injury on 24 March 2000, and missed the playoffs. After the
season, he was awarded the
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy after he accumulated only eight penalty minutes throughout the season.
Injuries cut short Demitra's season in
2000–01
when he appeared in only 44 games with St. Louis. He scored 20 goals
and 45 points to finish fifth in team scoring. He scored a hat trick and
added two assists for a five point game against the
New York Rangers
on 20 December 2000 in a 6–3 win. Less than a week later, on 26
December 2000, Demitra had another high scoring game, scoring two goals
and four points against the
Columbus Blue Jackets
in a 5–0 victory. On 30 December 2000, Demitra suffered an injury,
however, he came back with the team late in the season, and appeared in
15 playoff games, scoring two goals and six points.
In
2001–02,
Demitra was healthy, as he appeared in all 82 games for St. Louis,
scoring 35 goals and 78 points to lead the team in scoring and finish
seventh in the league scoring race. Demitra had a league high ten game
winning goals. He had a four point night against his former team, the
Ottawa Senators, on 27 November 2001, scoring two goals and two assists in a 4–2 victory. Demitra appeared in the
2002 NHL All-Star Game held in
Los Angeles, California,
however, he was held off the scoresheet in a 8–5 World win over North
America. In the playoffs, Demitra appeared in 10 games, scoring four
goals and 11 points. He had a four point night against the
Detroit Red Wings on 7 May 2002, scoring a goal and three assists in the Blues 6–1 victory.
The
2002–03
was Demitra's most productive in the NHL, as he set a career high with
93 points, which placed him sixth in NHL scoring, as Demtira scored 36
goals and 57 assists in 78 games. He had a hat trick and a season high
four points on 29 November 2002 in a 7–2 win over the
Calgary Flames. In the playoffs, Demitra had two goals and six points in seven games.
Demitra had a disappointing
2003–04
season, scoring 23 goals and 58 points, his lowest totals since his
injury plagued 2000–01 season, in 68 games. In the playoffs, Demitra had
a goal in five contests. This would be his final season with the Blues,
as Demitra left the team fifth in franchise scoring with 493 points in
494 games.
HC Dukla Trenčin
With the
2004-05 NHL lockout cancelling the season, Demitra signed with
HC Dukla Trenčín of the
Slovak Extraliga
on 17 September 2004. Demitra led the league in scoring with 28 goals
and 82 points in 54 games. Demitra scored four goals and 17 points in 12
playoff games with the team.
Los Angeles Kings
On 2 August 2005, Demitra signed a three year, $13.5 million contract with the
Los Angeles Kings.
[6] On 5 October 2005, Demitra played his first game with the Kings, scoring an assist in a 5–4 loss to the
Dallas Stars. The next night, on 6 October 2005, Demitra scored his first goal with his new team, scoring against
David LeNeveu of the
Phoenix Coyotes
in a 3–2 win. Demitra had three four-point games during the season,
including one on 22 November 2005 against his former team, the
St. Louis Blues
in a 6–3 Los Angeles win. Demitra missed 24 games with injuries,
including an eye problem, during the season. In 58 games during the
season, Demitra had 25 goals and 62 points to finish third in team scoring. On 24 June 2006, Los Angeles traded Demitra to the
Minnesota Wild for
Patrick O'Sullivan and a first round draft pick in the
2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Minnesota Wild
Demitra joined the Wild and fellow Slovak
Marián Gáborík for the
2006–07 season. Demitra played his first game with the Wild on 5 October 2006, recording two assists in a 3–2 win over the
Colorado Avalanche. In his next game on 7 October 2006, Demitra scored his first goal with Minnesota, scoring against
Tomáš Vokoun of the
Nashville Predators
in a 6–5 victory. Demitra finished the season tied for first in team
scoring, as he had 25 goals and 64 points in 71 games. The 64 points
were the highest by Demitra since 2002–03. Demitra played in his first
playoff game with Minnesota on 11 April 2007, scoring a goal against
Ilya Bryzgalov of the
Anaheim Ducks in a 2–1 loss. Demitra appeared in five playoff games, scoring a goal and four points.
Demitra was named the
captain of the Wild for the month of October 2007
[7] as part of the Wild's rotating captaincy to begin the
2007–08
season. Demitra had a tough season, scoring only 15 goals, his lowest
total since 1996–97, and 54 points through 68 games as he finished
fourth in team scoring. In the playoffs, Demitra had a goal and three
points in six games. At the end of the season, he became an unrestricted
free agent.
Vancouver Canucks
On 10 July 2008, Demitra signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the
Vancouver Canucks.
[8] He played in his first game as a Canuck on 9 October 2008, getting no points in a 6–0 win over the
Calgary Flames. In his next game, also against Calgary, Demitra scored his first goal with Vancouver, the game winning overtime goal against
Miikka Kiprusoff
in a 5–4 win. He finished the season with 20 goals and 53 points in 69
games, finishing fourth in team scoring. Demitra appeared in his first
playoff game with Vancouver on 15 April 2009, recording an assist in a
2–1 win over the
St. Louis Blues. Demitra scored his first playoff goal with the Canucks on 30 April 2009, scoring against
Nikolai Khabibulin of the
Chicago Blackhawks
in a 5–3 victory. On 2 May 2009, Demitra suffered a shoulder injury
against the Blackhawks that would end his season. In six playoff games,
Demitra had a goal and three points.
The
2009–10
would be a tough season on Demitra, as he missed most of the regular
season with the shoulder injury that occurred in the 2009 playoffs. In
28 games, Demitra had three goals and 16 points, his lowest totals since
1996–97. In the playoffs, Demitra had a three point game against the
Los Angeles Kings
on 23 April 2010, helping Vancouver to a 7–2 win. Overall, Demitra
appeared in 11 playoff games, scoring two goals and six points. After
the season, he became an unrestricted free agent. This would mark the
end of Demitra's NHL career. He'd played in 847 career games, and scored
304 goals with 464 assists for 768 points.
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Demitra joined
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the
KHL
on 15 July 2010. In his first season with Lokomotiv, Demitra scored 18
goals and 60 points in 54 games to finish fifth in league scoring. He
was named Forward of the Month in January 2011. In 18 playoff games with
Yaroslavl, Demitra had six goals and 15 assists for 21 points which
placed him second in KHL playoff scoring.
Demitra returned to the team for the
2011–12 season, however, on 7 September 2011, he was killed in a
plane crash along with most of his teammates.
International play
Demitra was named to
Team Slovakia for the
2010 Winter Olympics in his NHL hometown
Vancouver. On 18 February 2010, he scored in the seventh round of a shootout to help Slovakia beat
Russia in the round robin.
[9]
In the semi-finals against hosts Canada, Slovakia trailed 3–0 after two
periods but rallied with 2 goals in the third period, and Demitra
nearly scored with 9 seconds remained in regulation but his shot was
stopped by Canucks teammate
Roberto Luongo, and the save was dubbed the "Glove from Above".
[10] In the bronze medal game against
Finland,
Demitra assisted twice and scored once in the second period to help his
team to a 3–1 lead, though they could not hold on as Finland scored
four times (including an empty-net goal) in the third period to claim
bronze. Slovakia was ranked in fourth place, as Demitra led the
tournament in points with 10 and tied for the lead in assists with
seven. His play in the tournament led him to a selection to the all-star
team.
[11]
Demitra played for
Czechoslovakia in the following competitions:
Demitra has played for
Slovakia in the following competitions:
Awards and achievements
Death
The 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash occurred on 7 September
2011, at 4:02 PM local time, when a Yakovlev Yak-42 passenger aircraft,
carrying the entire hockey team of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the
Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), crashed near Yaroslavl, Russia, on its
way to Minsk, Belarus, to start the 2011–12 KHL season.
[1]
The entire club's roster was killed in the plane crash. The airplane
caught fire and crashed shortly after take-off, merely 4 kilometers from
the
Tunoshna
airport. Preliminary reports say that 43 of the 45 passengers on board
had been killed, including the entire roster and 4 youth players,
[12] and that the remaining one (
Alexander Galimov) was in critical condition. However, Galimov died a few days later.
[13] Demitra's agent, Matt Keator, confirmed his client's death.
[14][15]
Demitra was survived by his wife Maja and two children, Lucas and Zara. He was predeceased by his infant son, Tobias.
[16]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
All-Star Games
To see more of who died in 2011
click here
