Tragedies happen, and sometimes it effects the world of hockey.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24494629-5013449,00.html

Alexei Andreyevich Cherepanov was born on January 15th, 1989 in Baraul, RSFSR, SU.

Cherepanov showed an enormous amount of promise as a young hockey star in Russia (actually, he showed more promise than I had realized. These stats are really amazing). He earned the sweet-ass nickname Siberian Express after posting more rookie-season-points than some decently high profile NHLers. Know anyone by the names of Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, and Malkin? Google that shit. He set these records at the rype old age of 17. He also broke one Pavel Bure's goal scoring record. These numbers make it seem like he may have done okay in the NHL.

He wasn't drafted until the NY Rangers took him 17th overall, after being ranked as the top European, expected to go in the top five of the '07 draft. It is assumed that he fell so far because there was no transfer agreement in place between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Cherepanov holds some other goal scoring records in Russia as well, and was continuing his career in the Kontinental Hockey League when on October 13th, 2008, he collapsed after finishing a shift with linemate Jaromir Jagr. They were talking on the bench, when Alexei suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to hospital, but it was too late.

It is always a tragedy to lose a young life, and this promising superstar is no different. The Rangers gave a fitting moment of silence in his memory. May Alexei Andreyevich Cherepanov, the Siberian Express, rest in peace.