The wife of former Halifax Mooseheads captain Petr Vrana died tragically in the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
According to reports, Vrana's wife Lindsey drowned after falling through the ice on a lake. Local police said she went out on the ice to retrieve a puppy.
She grew up in Dartmouth and her maiden name was Lindsey Martin. They met when he was playing for the Mooseheads from 2002 to 2005.
"In the afternoon, we received a notice that a person broke through the Silesian Harta in the Nova Plan locality," read a statement from police spokesperson Zlatusa Viackova. "The search was immediately launched in the presence of rescuers, including a helicopter. The police found out that the woman stepped on the ice after a puppy ran in with her, walking with another dog. The search was completed more than an hour after the body was found. The circumstances of the case are still being investigated."
Vrana, 35, is the captain of Czech professional team HC Ocelari Trinec, which released a statement on his behalf prior to a game against Litvinov.
“It was with great sadness that we received the news of the tragic death in Petr Vrana’s family," the statement read. "The management of both clubs and the competition director have agreed to postpone the match. An unexpected and tragic event took place under still unclear circumstances. This is being investigated by the police and the club will not disclose any further details regarding the player’s privacy."
Vrana appeared in 16 NHL games with the New Jersey Devils in 2008-09, as well as 229 games over four seasons with their AHL affiliates in Lowell and Albany.
The Devils drafted Vrana in the second round (42nd overall) in 2003. He has been playing in the KHL and the Czech Republic since 2009.
