Karel Rachunek Karel Rachůnek ( , August 27 , 1979 – September 7 , 2011 ) was a Czech professional ice hockey player . Rachunek was the captain of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League ( KHL ) when the team ' s plane crashed on September 7 , 2011 . He played eight seasons in North America in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Rachunek was drafted in the ninth round , 229th overall , by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft . Playing career . Early career . Rachunek played his junior hockey with AC ZPS Zlin Jr . of the Czech Junior League from 1995 – 1997 . In his rookie season in 1995 – 96 , Rachunek recorded eight goals and 19 points in 38 games . In his second season with the club in 1996 – 97 , Rachunek scored two goals and 13 points in 27 games . In the 1997 NHL Entry Draft , the Ottawa Senators selected Rachunek in the ninth round , 229th overall . In 1997 – 98 , Rachunek moved to Zlin of the Czech Extraliga . In his first season with the club , he scored a goal and three points in 27 games . In 1998 – 99 , Rachunek improved his offensive numbers to three goals and 12 points in 39 games , as well as accumulating 88 penalty minutes , helping Zlin into the playoffs . In six playoff games , Rachunek was held pointless . Ottawa Senators . Rachunek made his North American debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the IHL in 1999 – 2000 , which was the Ottawa Senators top minor league affiliate . In 62 games with the Griffins , Rachunek had six goals and 26 points , helping Grand Rapids earn a playoff berth . In nine post - season games , Rachunek had five assists . He also made his NHL debut with the Senators in 1999 – 2000 . Rachunek made his debut on October 31 , 1999 , getting no points with 14 : 22 of ice time in the Senators 6 – 4 win over the Atlanta Thrashers . Rachunek appeared in six games with Ottawa , going pointless . In 2000 – 01 , Rachunek made the Senators coming out of training camp . In his rookie season , Rachunek appeared in 71 games , scoring three goals and 33 points , averaging nearly 21 minutes of ice time per game , helping the Senators into the playoffs . Rachunek earned his first NHL point on November 11 , 2000 , an assist on a goal by Magnus Arvedson in the Senators 4 – 3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers . He would score his first NHL goal on January 16 , 2001 , scoring on Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jamie Storr in a 7 – 6 loss . Rachunek appeared in three playoff games , getting no points . Rachunek missed 31 games in 2001 – 02 due to injuries . In 51 games with Ottawa , he scored three goals and 18 points . He then missed the playoffs due to injuries . Rachunek missed the first part of the 2002 – 03 season due to a contract dispute , as he played for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the RSL . In nine games with Yaroslavl , Rachunek had three goals . On November 8 , 2002 , he resigned with the Ottawa Senators , and would appear in 58 games with them , scoring four goals and 29 points . Rachunek then played in 17 playoff games with the Senators , scoring a goal and four points . He scored his first playoff goal against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils on May 17 , 2003 in a 5 – 2 loss . Rachunek also played in six games with the Binghamton Senators of the AHL , earning two assists . In 2003 – 04 , Rachunek played in 60 games with the Senators , scoring a goal and 17 points . His time with the Senators came to an end , as on March 9 , 2004 , Ottawa traded Rachunek and Alexandre Giroux to the New York Rangers for Greg de Vries . New York Rangers . Rachunek finished the 2003 – 04 season with the New York Rangers . He appeared in his first game with New York on March 12 , 2004 against the Tampa Bay Lightning , as the Rangers lost 5 – 2 . He scored his first goal and point as a Ranger on March 25 , 2004 , beating goaltender Tomas Vokoun of the Nashville Predators in a 4 – 2 loss . Rachunek finished the year playing in 12 games with the Rangers , scoring a goal and four points . Orli Znojmo . With the 2004 - 05 NHL lockout cancelling the season , Rachunek signed with Orli Znojmo of the Czech Extraliga on September 6 , 2004 . In 21 games , he scored five goals and 11 points before becoming a free agent at the end of October . Lokomotiv Yaroslavl . On November 1 , 2004 , Rachunek returned to Lokomotiv Yaroslav of the RSL , where he first played during the 2002 – 03 season when he and the Ottawa Senators could not agree to a contract . He finished the 2004 – 05 season with the club , getting six goals and 14 points in 27 games . In the playoffs , Rachunek had two goals in nine games . Rather than return to the NHL for the 2005 – 06 season , Rachunek decided to remain with Yaroslavl . In 45 games , Rachunek had 11 goals and 27 points . He was then held pointless in two playoff games , however , Rachunek accumulated 29 penalty minutes in those two games . New York Rangers . Rachunek returned to the New York Rangers for the 2006 – 07 season . In 66 games , Rachunek had six goals and 26 points , helping the team into the playoffs . In six playoff games , Rachunek had four assists . After the season , Rachunek became a free agent . New Jersey Devils . On July 3 , 2007 , the New Jersey Devils signed Rachunek for the 2007 – 08 season . Rachunek played in his first game as a Devil on October 4 , 2007 , earning no points in a 3 – 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning . He recorded his first point on October 8 , 2007 , an assist against his former team , the Ottawa Senators in a 4 – 2 loss . Rachunek scored his first goal with New Jersey on November 17 , 2007 , against Martin Biron of the Philadelphia Flyers in a 6 – 2 win . Injuries cut his season short , as Rachunek appeared in only 49 games , scoring four goals and 13 points . At the end of the season , Rachunek was a free agent . Dynamo Moscow . On August 31 , 2008 , Rachunek signed a contract with HC Dynamo Moscow of the KHL . In the 2008 – 09 season , Rachunek had nine goals and 32 points in 50 games . In 12 playoff games , Rachunek had four goals and eight points . He returned to Dynamo Moscow for the 2009 – 10 season , where he scored 10 goals and 27 points in 52 games , helping the club reach the post - season . In four playoff games , Rachunek had no points . Lokomotiv Yaroslavl . Rachunek returned to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl , now in the KHL for the third time in the 2010 – 11 season . In 50 games with Yaroslavl , Rachunek had 11 goals and 46 points , as the team finished with the best record in the Tarasov Division . In 18 playoff games , Rachunek had eight goals and 13 points . He returned to the team for 2011 – 12 , however , on September 7 , 2011 , Rachunek was killed in a plane crash . International career . Rachunek played with the Czech Republic national ice hockey team in various tournaments throughout his career . At the 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships held in Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada , Rachunek had a goal and four points in six games as the Czech Republic finished in seventh place . At the 2009 IIHF World Championship held in Switzerland , Rachunek had four assists in seven games , as the Czech Republic finished in sixth place . Rachunek earned a spot on the team again for the 2010 IIHF World Championship held in Germany , as he scored two goals and four points in nine games , helping the Czech Republic to the Gold Medal . Rachunek had an assist on the game winning goal in the Gold Medal game . At the 2011 IIHF World Championship held in Slovakia , Rachunek had a goal and three points in nine games , helping the Czech Republic to the Bronze Medal . Death . Rachůnek died on September 7 , 2011 in a plane crash , along with his entire Lokomotiv team , just outside Yaroslavl , Russia . The team was on its way to their 2011 – 2012 season opener with the entire team , coaching staff , and prospects . Lokomotiv officials said " everyone from the main roster was on the plane plus four players from the youth team . " The team was traveling to Minsk to play their opening game of the season . " It was during the takeoff , after the runway of 3km that the airplane simply couldn ' t get up high enough , according to reports the plane reached a total altitude of 10 – 50 meters before hitting a pylon and dropping to the left . Parts of the airplane spread in Volga , and others on plain land , as it broke apart just before once again touching the ground . Career statistics . " Note : GP = Games played , G = Goals , A = Assists , P = Points , PIM = Penalty minutes , + / - = Plus / minus , S = Shots , S % = Shooting percentage "