The news broke earlier this afternoon on different sports websites: the 2007 first pick of the New York Rangers, Alexei Cherepanov, died today at the age of 19.
Playing for the Avangard Omsk, in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia, Cherepanov reportedly collapsed on the bench in the third period. The medical staff realized at that moment that his heart had stopped beating, as they tried to bring him back.
He has been brought to an hospital in Moscow, where his death has been pronounced.
According to TSN, Avangard Omsk head coach, Wayne Fleming, said he saw the young player collapsing on the bench, but did not recall anything that happened on the ice that could cause that.
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TSN's sources also reported that the ambulance that was usually at disposition of the teams had already left, and had been called back again for Cherepanov.
Other reports say Cherepanov collided with Jaromir Jagr in the eighteenth minute of the third period, during a line change; and then collapsed once he got on the bench.
Questions arose from this unsuccessful rescue, and most question the proper work of the defibrillators used in the arena.
Cherepanov has been drafted on the first round by the New York Rangers in 2007,17th overall.
The one who held the nickname "Siberian Express" had an amazing rookie year, being more productive than Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk at their respective first years with the Super League.
He also surpassed Pavel Bure's record for the most scoring rookie. He was the most scoring player of his team, at the World Hockey Championship in 2007; and led his team to the Bronze Medal in 2008. He had one year left on his contract in the KHL, and most were looking forward to seeing him adapting to the NHL.
I'd like to address my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
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about 1 month ago
It is really Sad.
I knew of Cherepanov back in 2006, where talks started that the Habs would love a player like Cherepenov (of course, they do that on a regular basis). I was like who the heck is cherepenov, and found out he was a top prospect to be drafted in the NHL, to the likes of Malkin, if I should say so.
I didn't know much about Cherepenov after he was drafted by NY (as I do to most prospects not drafted by Montreal or Colorado), thats why I was so shocked when I saw the news. I really couldn't believe that an athlete could have a heart attack on ice. Did Jagr cause this? This is truely heart-breaking. As a fan of the NFL and NHL, i get sad by news like this from time to time (Darrent Williams, Kevin Everett, Dan Snyder, Alexei, etc). I hope he is in a better place.
The world of hockey and the world of sports will miss you.
from about 1 month ago
it is tough, indeed. he was so young ...
he was normally set to be among the top five prospects in 2007. I remember, I saw him I was like "oh, a new kovalev for the rangers!". or even better ... unfortunately, we'll never know.
I dont think we can say that jagr caused it. of course, he would never do that. reports just brought jagr in a "event reconstruction" type of thing. they have nothing to relate the collision to the heart complications. the main thing now is to find out about those defibrillators in the arena; some say they weren't working properly. plus the whole ambulance episode which delayed his arrival at the hospital, it seems.
about 1 month ago
Thanks
from about 1 month ago
u're welcome ...
about 1 month ago
i am so sad that this kid die...i heard he was going to be a great player...i wish i could tell his family that I am sorry for his loss...nice tribute to Alex Cherepanov, Miah
from about 1 month ago
thanks Melissa,
it is tough indeed. the best that we can do is to pray for him and his family...
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