According to various sources across the internet, and confirmed by the NY Rangers, the team’s first round pick in the 2007 draft, (17th overall) Alexi Cherepanov is dead. He was only 19 years old.
Though no definitive report on the incident available as of yet, various sources across the net are reporting that in last night’s Avangard Omsk / Chekhov Vityaz game, Cherepanov and a teammate were making a line change when they smashed into one another. TSN.ca is reporting that Omsk’s head coach, Wayne Fleming, said “The Siberian Express” (Cherepanov’s nickname), “collapsed on the bench during the third period of the game.”
TSN is also reporting from sources in Russia, “that the ambulance that is normally at all games had already departed and had to be called back.” It’s also not clear “as to whether defibrillators at the arena were in good working order.”
This tragedy affects not only the NY Rangers organization, including the Hartford Wolf Pack, or even hockey in general, it affects all of us. This loss is a reminder that life is such a precious thing and should never to be taken for granted. As a parent of two very young children myself, my heart goes out to Cherepanov’s parents and family who must be absolutely devastated. We offer our deepest sympathies.
On a more personal note, when Jess Rubinstein of Prospect Park and I covered the NHL draft for Blueshirt Bulletin in 2007, we were right there in the arena when the Russian youngster was selected.
I vividly remember greeting him as he walked to the podium to answer the media’s questions. I remember being impressed by how “strong” he seemed to be; not in terms of him possibly bench pressing a Buick, but more in terms of his mental toughness and the excitement that was on his face. In fact, I took that picture of his great smile from the podium that Blueshirt Bulletin used to announce his arrival to NY. As much of a thrill as it was for me to be a part of the draft from the inside, that experience will forever be a reminder of what could have been and never got the chance to be.
I now have an even deeper appreciation for every moment that I have with my own children.
Before I share the official release from the Rangers organization on the passing of Alexi Cherepanov, I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to all of those people who knew him, who loved him and who were fans of his…which I unashamedly admit to have been. We are all at a loss.
I’ve carried in my wallet since the eighth grade a quote that sums up my views on life and death and as corny or “unprofessional” as it might be to share it with you, I hope in some way that it eases the pain of this incredible tragedy.
In his “Meditation XVII,” the great English poet John Donne once wrote:
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were: any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”
Here is the Rangers release:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather regretfully announced today that forward Alexei Cherepanov passed away during a game in Russia on Monday evening. Cherepanov was 19 years old.
“We are extremely saddened by the tragic passing of Alexei,” said 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.”
Cherepanov appeared in 14 games with Avangard Omsk of the Continental Hockey League (KHL) this season, registering seven goals and five assists for 12 points. He ranked second on the team in goals (seven) and fourth in points (12). He also ranked third on the team with a 24.1% shooting percentage.The 6-1, 187-pounder appeared in 106 career Russian Super League (RSL)/KHL matches with Avangard Omsk, collecting 40 goals and 29 assists for 69 points, along with 61 penalty minutes. Last season, Cherepanov established a career-high in assists (13) while finishing fourth on the club in points (28). In 2006-07, he set the RSL record for most goals by a rookie (18), eclipsing Pavel Bure’s mark (17) set in 1988-89 with the Red Army (CSKA Moscow). With 29 points in his first season with Omsk, Cherepanov recorded more points than Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin, Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin and Atlanta’s Ilya Kovalchuk each tallied in their first RSL season.
Internationally, Cherepanov represented Team Russia in several elite tournaments. Most recently, he helped lead Russia to a Bronze Medal in the 2008 U-20 World Junior Championships, tallying three goals and three assists for six points and a plus-three rating in six games. In 2007,Cherepanov earned Top Forward honors by the Directorate and was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the 2007 U-20 World Junior Championships, where he led all players in scoring with eight points (five goals and three assists) in six games and helped Team Russia capture a Silver Medal.
The Barnaul, Russia native was originally the Rangers’ first round choice, 17th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
On his blog, Sam Weinman speaks with Cherepanov’s agent, Jay Grossman.
Here is the TSN report:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3dxQgRR_PY&hl=en&fs=1]
A nice tribute to a fallen young man:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtV3EaHfbgY&hl=en&fs=1]
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
1 Comment
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Top picks
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT
PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
Mitch,
Thanks for the great Donne quote–as a Professor of English and poet myself, it’s in literature that I find my best solace. I went to Whitman’s poems on the death of Lincoln when I heard.
My son is two years younger that Cherepanov was. It reminds me how important it is to enjoy his presence….
G