Family Buries Cherepanov, But Questions Remain

Thousands of people attended the funeral for Alexei Cherepanov on Wednesday in Russia. The 19-year-old Rangers prospect -- and 2007 first-round pick -- died during a Kontinental Hockey League game. His death continues to raise questions. Should he have been playing with chronic ischemia? If it wasn't detected, why not? Did paramedics handle the situation properly? As always, plenty of tests will be made before everything is sorted out. The NY Times Slap Shot blog has an excerpt of an interview with a doctor that tried to revive Cherepanov, including whether or not he was alive when brought into the locker room, "We asked him to blink. And he did it! Several times his heart and respiration started. But he was breathing independently for not more than five seconds."

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By Tom Boorstein in News on October 15, 2008 12:43 PM

Comments [rss]

longacre

I don't understand players like Jagr going there other than for MONEY when no one even know how it's regulated at all.

Even with the money I don't understand why he'd want to play there. They can decide not to pay him one day and there won't be a Gary Bettman to complain to.

famdoc

There isn't an athletic facility in the US without an AED (automated external defibrillator). If there is, they risk big-time lawsuits if an athlete dies suddenly in their facility. There is a high prevalence of cardiomyopathy, particularly hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H..., one of the most common causes of sudden death in athletes, among participants in high-exertion athletics. Very hard to detect in pre-participation physicals.

miz coaster

Kontinental Hockey League has nothing on the NHL.

I don't understand players like Jagr going there other than for MONEY when no one even know how it's regulated at all.

The NHL should outright BAN their players from the KHL - i have heard a few players being injured in the beginning of the NHL season from catching a few games in Russia. If a player is caught playing there, they should be fined and benched.

David

This league thinks it's going to challenge the NHL as the top league in the world? Not if it can't keep it's players safe during games.

This whole situation went from disturbing to downright ghetto, and everyone involved should be ashamed for letting this kid die what may have been a preventable death.