Tragic Loss For Rangers
The New York Rangers exploded out of the gate and have vaulted to a 5-0 record in the NHL’s regular season. But while they have yet to face a loss on the ice, there was some tragic news for the team yesterday when it was reported that top prospect Alexei Cherepanov had collapsed during a game in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League. He later passed away.
Reports suggest that he died of cardiac failure. At the arena, there are questions as to the condition of the defibrullator equipment that could possibly have re-started his heart, but so far, there is nothing concrete. Adding to the tragedy, it appears as though an ambulance, which is always present at hockey games, had already left the arena, and had to be re-called. It took a reported 17-20 minutes to get Alexei to the hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
Cherepanov was a highly skilled player, who surpassed the rookie goal scoring record of 17, set by Pavel Bure. He was, by all accounts, playing amazing hockey this season, his last year under contract to Avangard Omsk. It was expected he would attempt to make the Rangers squad next season.
From his agent Jay Grossman, it seems as though Cherepanov and Jaromir Jagr had just finished a shift where they had a two-on-one attempt thwarted. Jagr had apparently been speaking to Cherepanov about how they should have scored on their opportunity, when Cherepanov collapsed. TV footage then shows absolute chaos on the Avangard Omsk bench, as players, coaches and medical staff attempted to revive Alexei. Tragically, they were unsuccessful.
My favourite memories of Alexei were from the World Junior Championships in Leksands, where he tallied 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 games en route to a silver medal. He simply oozed raw talent and skill, and looked to enjoy the game as much as Alexander Ovechkin does. I was thrilled when the Rangers saw him fall from a consensus top-5 draft pick to land in New York at 17th overall.
Perhaps most fitting is that Alexei had scored the first goal of the game on Monday. He went out doing what he loved.
REST IN PEACE AC! You will be missed!
Author Bio
A new author at RMT, I've had previous experience at TheFourthPeriod.com and am currently the owner of Sportsfiend.ca, which is a multi-sports site.
I have been a hockey fan my entire life. I remember watching as a child as my father would tune in to any games with Czechoslovakia versus the Soviet (my family is Czech). It was those early childhood memories that engraved my love for hockey into the fabric of my person.
One thing I have learned is that hockey is a sport best enjoyed for its players, not its teams. Steve Yzerman is a rare commodity, meaning that rooting for a particular team may mean losing touch with your idols.
While Jagr is the player I admire most from a skill standpoint, I think Yzerman is the epitomy of professional sports, because of his genuine nature, his passion for the game, and his gentlemanly approach to what can be quite a soap-opera at times.
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