All-Blogs.net directory Light the Lamp - a Columbus Blue Jackets blog: Rangers prospect Cherepanov dies at age 19

Countdown to Rick Nash's contract expiration:

Monday, October 13, 2008

Rangers prospect Cherepanov dies at age 19


I have some tragic news to share....from TSN:

New York Ranger prospect Alexei Cherepanov collapsed on the bench at or near the end of Omsk's Kontinental Hockey League game and died a short time later, he was 19.

Omsk head coach, Wayne Fleming said Cherepanov collapsed on the bench during the third period of the game and did not see anything that happened on the ice that may have contributed to it.

Fleming also said medical authorities tried to get Cherepanov's heart beating again after it had stopped.

Sources in Russia tell TSN that the ambulance that is normally at all games had already departed and had to be called back.

It is not clear exactly how long it took for Cherepanov to be transported from the rink to the hospital but one source in the arena told TSN it was "probably 15 or 20 minutes."

Also, there is some question as to whether defibrillators at the arena were in good working order.

No further details are available at this point.

"We are extremely saddened by the tragic passing of Alexei," said New York Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather. "On behalf of the New York Rangers organization, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family. Alexei was an intelligent, energetic young man, with tremendous talent and an extremely bright future."

"He was a great kid," Cherepanov's agent, Jay Grossman told TSN. "He had a great smile and was an outstanding player with a great future on and off the ice. It's both shocking and devastating news for all of us. "


If you recall Cherepanov was drafted by the Rangers right here in Columbus in the 2007 draft. In fact my seats for that event were one section over from him. He was projected to be a top 5 pick but because of the non-transfer agreement he slid all the way to the Rangers pick at 17.

This is absolutely shocking news. You just wonder why it happens to someone so young with such a bright future. Life is certainly a fragile thing.

My sincere condolences go out to his family.

-LTL

2 comments:

Unknown said...

R.I.P. Alexei

Anonymous said...

One has to wonder the circumstances of this. I recommend Dave Kings "King of Russia" book which details his coaching in Russia, very sketchy medical treatment. Regardless, it's a terrible loss and I have a picture of him on Draft day down in the hallway before his rookie picture was taken, he was talking to Angelo Esposito.