How Could Alexei Cherepanov's Condition Fall Through the Cracks?

There was a very tragic sports news story that appeared in the print media and on the Web today. The story was about a young New York Rangers prospect, Alexei Cherepanov. He apparently had a heart attack on the bench during his game in the Russian Elite League and could not be resuscitated.

Cherepanov was only 19 years old. It was later revealed that Cherepanov had a heart condition and should have never been playing hockey in the first place. You have to wonder what was going on that this poor kid had been playing the game for so long to become good enough to be drafted 17th overall by the Rangers in 2007, and now it comes to light that he had a heat condition that would make playing hockey very dangerous for him.

I just don’t get how in this day and age with some much information on news and sports available on the Web and in other media sources, how this kid fell through the cracks and could not have been diagnosed before his young life was ended. To read more on this sports news story on the Web, click HERE.

Video Tribute to Alexei Cherepanov

“No Guts No Glory”

Walt Webb