Karel Rachůnek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Karel Rachůnek |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Rachůnek in 2010
|
|||
| Born | August 27, 1979 Gottwaldov, Czechoslovakia |
||
| Died | September 7, 2011 (aged 32) Yaroslavl, Russia |
||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Ottawa Senators New York Rangers New Jersey Devils Dynamo Moscow Lokomotiv Yaroslavl |
||
| National team |  Czech Republic |
||
| NHL Draft | 229th overall, 1997 Ottawa Senators |
||
| Playing career | 1997–2011 | ||
Karel Rachůnek (born August 27, 1979 – died September 7, 2011) was a talented Czech professional ice hockey player. He was a defenceman, which means he played a key role in protecting his team's goal. Karel was the captain of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Sadly, he passed away in a plane crash with his team in 2011.
Karel played for eight seasons in North America in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was chosen by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Karel also had two brothers, Ivan Rachůnek and Tomáš Rachůnek, who were also professional ice hockey players.
Contents
Playing Career: Karel's Hockey Journey
Starting Out in Czech Republic
Karel Rachůnek began his hockey journey playing for junior teams in the Czech Republic from 1995 to 1997. He showed promise early on, scoring goals and earning points. In 1997, the Ottawa Senators picked him in the NHL Draft, which was a big step towards his dream of playing in North America.
After his junior years, Karel played for HC Zlín in the top Czech league, called the Czech Extraliga. He improved his skills there, helping his team reach the playoffs.
Playing in the NHL: Ottawa Senators
In 1999, Karel moved to North America to play for the Grand Rapids Griffins. This team was connected to the Ottawa Senators. He played well there, scoring goals and helping his team make it to the playoffs.
Karel also made his debut in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Ottawa Senators during the 1999–2000 season. He played his first NHL game on October 31, 1999.
In his first full season with the Senators (2000–01), Karel played in 71 games. He scored his first NHL goal on January 16, 2001. He became an important player for the team, helping them reach the playoffs.
Karel faced some injuries during the 2001–02 season, which kept him from playing in some games and the playoffs. In 2002, he played briefly for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in Russia due to a contract discussion, but he soon returned to the Senators. He continued to play well, even scoring his first playoff goal in 2003.
In 2004, Karel was traded to the New York Rangers.
Time with the New York Rangers and Back to Russia
Karel finished the 2003–04 season with the New York Rangers. He quickly scored his first goal for his new team.
When the NHL season was cancelled in 2004–05, Karel went back to play in the Czech Republic for Orli Znojmo. Soon after, he returned to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in Russia, where he had played before. He stayed with Yaroslavl for two seasons, playing a big role on the team.
Back to the NHL and KHL
Karel returned to the New York Rangers for the 2006–07 season. He played in 66 games and helped the team get into the playoffs.
In 2007, he signed with the New Jersey Devils. Injuries again limited his playing time, but he still scored goals and helped his team.
In 2008, Karel decided to play in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia, signing with HC Dynamo Moscow. He had two strong seasons there, scoring many points.
Final Years with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Karel Rachůnek returned to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl for the third time in 2010. This time, the team was part of the KHL. He had an amazing season, scoring 11 goals and 46 points, helping his team finish with the best record in their division. He also played very well in the playoffs.
Karel was ready to start the 2011–12 season as the captain of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
International Hockey: Playing for His Country
Karel Rachůnek proudly represented the Czech Republic national ice hockey team in many international tournaments.
- At the 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, he scored goals and helped his team.
- In the 2009 IIHF World Championship, he had four assists for the Czech Republic.
- A highlight of his career was the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany. Karel scored a game-tying goal with only seven seconds left in the semi-final game against Sweden! This helped the Czech Republic win the gold medal. He even assisted on the winning goal in the final game.
- At the 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia, Karel helped his team win the bronze medal.
A Sad Loss
On September 7, 2011, just after his 32nd birthday, Karel Rachůnek passed away. He was on a plane with his entire Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team, coaching staff, and other players, heading to their first game of the new season in Minsk.
The plane crashed shortly after takeoff near Yaroslavl, Russia. It was a terrible accident that resulted in the loss of almost everyone on board. The hockey world mourned the loss of Karel and his teammates.
