Slovak · Dubnica nad Váhom, Czechoslovakia · Born 29 November 1974 · Died 2011-09-07Pavol Demitra was a Slovak NHL forward and one of the St. Louis Blues' greatest players, whose life was cut short in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash.
Pavol Demitra won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 2000 and earned three NHL All-Star selections during a career in which he ranked fifth on the St. Louis Blues' all-time scoring list, before his life was tragically cut short in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl air crash of September 2011. He played for HC Dukla Trenčín before being selected 227th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, joining the Senators organization the following year. A contract holdout with Ottawa led to Demitra's trade to the St. Louis Blues in November 1996, and it was there that he became one of the most skilled offensive players of his era, earning three NHL All-Star selections (1999, 2000, 2002) and winning the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and skill in 2000. He finished his Blues career fifth on the franchise's all-time scoring list with 493 points in 494 games, before later playing for the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, and Vancouver Canucks. Demitra represented Slovakia extensively at Olympic and World Championship level, and delivered one of the finest individual performances of his international career at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, finishing as the tournament's leading scorer. He signed with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL in 2011, but was killed on September 7, 2011, along with his entire teammates and the rest of the Lokomotiv squad, when their aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff. Both Team Slovakia and HC Dukla Trenčín retired his No. 38 jersey in the days following his death, with close friend and former teammate Marián Hossa raising it to the rafters.
One of the St. Louis Blues' finest offensive players, and leading scorer at the 2010 Winter Olympics
How They Played
Skilled offensive center known for elite playmaking and clean, sportsmanlike play
Lasting Impact
Remembered as one of Slovakia's most beloved hockey figures, whose tragic death in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl crash devastated the sport
Career Honours
- Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (2000)
- 3x NHL All-Star (1999, 2000, 2002)
- Leading scorer, 2010 Winter Olympics
- 5th all-time leading scorer in St. Louis Blues history
- Jersey retired by Team Slovakia and HC Dukla Trenčín
| Team | Period | GP |
|---|---|---|
| HC Dukla Trenčín | 1991–1994 | — |
| Ottawa Senators | 1994–1996 | — |
| St. Louis Blues | 1996–2004 | 494 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 2005–2006 | — |
| Minnesota Wild | 2006–2008 | — |
| Vancouver Canucks | 2008–2009 | — |
Slovak Athletes