Josef Vašíček (; 12 September 1980 – 7 September 2011) was a Czech professional ice hockey player. Vašíček last played for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and died in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash. He had played seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Carolina Hurricanes, Nashville Predators and New York Islanders before moving to Russia in 2008 to play for Yaroslavl. Playing career Amateur Vašíček played with Slavia Prague's under-17 team in 1996–97, recording 20 goals and 60 points in 37 games. In 1997–98, he moved up to the Prague's junior team, where he had 13 goals and 33 points in 34 games. He was then drafted by the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round, 91st overall, at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. After his draft, Vašíček made the move to North America to join the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In the 1998–99 season, he scored 21 goals and 56 points in 66 games, helping the team to the playoffs, where in five post-season games, he scored three goals. Vašíček returned to the Greyhounds for the 1999–2000 season, where he improved his offensive numbers to 26 goals and 72 points in 54 games to finished second in team scoring. In the playoffs, Vašíček had five goals and a team-high 20 points in 17 games. He was named to the OHL Third All-Star Team after the season. Professional After a solid training camp in September 2000, Vašíček made the Hurricanes' NHL roster and ultimately spent the entire 2000–01 season with the team. He played in his first NHL game on October 7, 2000, earning no points in a 3–3 tie against the Washington Capitals. He then scored his first career NHL goal on October 13 after he beat goaltender Trevor Kidd of the Florida Panthers in an eventual 2–2 tie. Vašíček finished his rookie season with eight goals and 21 points in 76 games. He then played in his first-ever Stanley Cup playoff game on April 12, 2001, scoring a goal against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils in a 5–1 loss. In six playoff games, Vašíček had two goals. Vašíček improved offensively in 2001–02 — in 78 games, he scored 14 goals and 31 points to finished seventh in Hurricanes scoring. In the 2002 playoffs, Vašíček had three goals and five points in 23