Sergei Berezin cause of death: Former NHL player passes away at 52

SAM

Actualizado 27/06/2024 - 13:58 CDT

Sergei Berezin, a former NHL player who spent seven seasons in the league, has passed away at 52, with the announcement coming via the NHL Alumni Association on Wednesday.

Known for his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Berezin was a popular player in his relatively long spell in the NHL, however he now leaves behind a family that he had been able to spend a lot of time with him after his hockey retirement.

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 10th round of the 1994 NHL Draft from Voskresensk, Russia, Berezin made a significant impact. He played five seasons with the Maple Leafs, scoring over 20 goals in four seasons, before signing with the Phoenix Coyotes.

As of writing there is no news on the cause of death.

In the 1996-97 season, Berezin led all rookies with 25 goals. His standout season was in 1998-99, where he netted 37 goals and 59 points, both career highs.

Berezin also played for the Phoenix Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and Washington Capitals. He retired after the 2002-03 season.

In his 502 NHL games, Berezin scored 160 goals and 126 assists, plus an additional 13 goals and 17 assists in 52 playoff games.

Post-retirement, he coached hockey, played tennis, and spent time with his family, as per the NHL Alumni Association, with his death coming as a shock to all those who were close to him.

As was expected in the hours after the announcement by the NHL Alumni Association, the Toronto Maple Leafs paid their own tribute to Berezin via their social media pages.

"We are incredibly saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Sergei Berezin," the franchise's tweet read.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time."