Tragic news for NY Rangers

verylowpriority · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:35 pm Post subject: Tragic news for NY Rangers

New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov suffered an apparent heart attack during a game Monday night in Russia, collapsing on the bench, and died. He was 19.

"We are extremely saddened by the tragic passing of Alexei," Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather said in a statement. "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 was the Rangers' first-round pick, 17th overall, in the 2007 draft.

Avangard Omsk head coach Wayne Fleming said Cherepanov collapsed during the third period Monday night. Fleming said he did not see anything on the ice that could have contributed to the collapse and said medical personnel tried to get Cherepanov's heart beating again after it had stopped.

According to Russian media reports, Cherepanov was rushed to hospital when he lost consciousness after colliding with teammate Jaromir Jagr in the third period against Vityaz Chekhov.

"He was a great kid," Cherepanov's agent, Jay Grossman, told TSN of Canada. "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."

The Rangers wanted to bring Cherepanov to New York for the their prospect evaluation camp or training camp, according to NHL.com, but couldn't because of the lack of a formal transfer agreement between the NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation. The Rangers had instead hoped to have Cherepanov for the 2009-10 season.

Cherepanov was the top-ranked European skater heading into the 2007 draft and had more points in his first year in the Russian league than Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk. His 18 goals in 2006-07 broke Pavel Bure's RSL rookie scoring record.

"He was close to a complete package," Goran Stubb, NHL Director of European Scouting, told NHL.com. "Very fast skater. He was a goal-scorer and a passer.

"I think he could have been a big spectator favorite because he was that kind of player. Sometimes you could hardly notice him, but on one shift, he could do unbeliveable things with the puck -- passing, shooting, skating, extremely skillful. A finesse player with a capital 'F,'" Stubb said.

Cherepanov had seven goals and five assists in 14 games with Avangard Omsk this season. In 106 career games with Avangard Omsk, he had 40 goals and 29 assists, as well as 61 penalty minutes. In the 2008 Under-20 World Junior Championships, he led Russia to a bronze medal.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.
_________________
NHrow7 (1996-2006)

Ornery · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:38 am Post subject:

Sad
_________________
If we don't protect freedom of speech, how will we know who the assholes are?

**Shanny** · The Goddess Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1509

Holy shit.

A girl from work asked me if I'd heard about this, but she didn't know anything more than it was a 19-year old.

Wow.
_________________
I'm not judging you.
I just think you're stupid.

verylowpriority · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject:

**dfwbat** · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1184

verylowpriority · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:22 pm Post subject:

I deal with children all day, every day. Mine all have law degrees.
_________________
NHrow7 (1996-2006)

**Shanny** · The Goddess Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 1509

By "girl", I was referring to another teacher. My students are clueless.

_________________
I'm not judging you.
I just think you're stupid.

staltus · Gross Misconduct Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 782

Isn't that what you are there for, to provide them a clue, or at least show them where to find the clue phone? 8)