65 replies to this topic

[PortBeach13]

LINK

Sergei Zholtok, a centre who finished the 2003-2004 NHL season with the Nashville Predators, died Wednesday in Latvia.  He was 31.

[Marshy]

Sad to see. I hung up his jersey at The State of Hockey.net

[Arse McKnob]

Wow. You'd think with all the physicals these guys get they'd have caught that problem.

[Jennifer1515]

WOW!!!

so young

[Veca]

Ardievu Sergeis...hockey will not be the same without you. Rest in peace....

[Dark Knight]

Wow. One would indeed think they'd catch it. RIP Sergei you will be missed.

[Marshy]

Zholie sat out last season around this time because they did catch a strange heart problem and he wasnt cleared to play for a few weeks.

[JasonAKADfan8]

I was shocked to read this story on Yahoo sports...he was younger than myself and to be in such shape and with so much talent...my condolences to his family...He was a pleasure to watch on the ice and he'll be missed. Sergei Zholtok RIP. God Bless!

[lvsprt]

This is sad to hear. Much too young to go. My condolences to his family.

[Just Duckie]

Now that you mention it The One, I have a vague recollection of that. But it still is a shock to hear that he has passed away. RIP Sergei

[cayli'smom750]

How sad this is...it reminds me of Sergei Grinkov, the pairs figure skater who collapsed on the ice due to a sudden heart attack. Another guy who was in top physical condition and whose heart situation was completely missed by the doctors who monitored him regularly.

I've always liked Zholtok, as far back as when he was on the Canadiens. I remember him when he was made monthly captain of the Wild and during the Ducks/Wild playoffs. I think my favorite Ducks/Wild moment had to be the game in January 2002. The Ducks were winning 2-1, I told Francaise it was a sure thing and we could go home, and Gaborik scored with 2.5 seconds left. I will always remember Francaise turning in her seat to hit me with her program for opening my big mouth!

My deepest condolences go to Sergei's family and friends. He will be greatly missed by this hockey fan!

[Veca]

I wonder how Ozolinsh is taking this....they were best friends. Zholtok was the first person he called when he was traded by the Sharks. This has to be so hard for the whole family and all his friends.

Zholtok was such a good player and seemed like a vey nice person. It's so sad that because of this whole lockout mess, he never got to play even one game this season and for him it's all over now.

[Baltic Gal]

How horribly sad. So young and gone already.

Three years ago, Zholtok and fellow-Latvian Arturs Irbe, at the time a goalie with the Carolina Hurricanes, helped set up an online auction of hockey memorabilia to benefit abused children in their homeland. They arranged to have pucks, sticks and equipment autographed by more than 115 NHL players from 18 teams for sale to the highest bidders. It was a lot of work but they cherished the cause.

The auction was for the Kids First Fund.

The Kids First Fund will pioneer the development of Latvia’s first family shelter as a demonstration project to encourage the growth of these services throughout the country.

Irbe is on the board of directors and Zholtok was an Honorary Director.


Adam (aka The One) you may want to think about doing something on the State Of Hockey to raise money to donate to the fund in memory of Zholtok. That might be a really nice thing for the Wild fans to do.

[Latvian]

I'm still shocked.. so is everyone else... He was so happy that because of the lockout he could play here in Latvia along with his friends.. he even talked in his buddy Darby Hendricson to play with him and have fun...
He died doing what he loved most - playing ice hockey... You were one of the best sportsmen Latvia had....

RIP Zholi you will be in our hearts forever...

Lai tev vieglas smiltis, Sergej!

[Veca]

I'm glad you were able to post here Latvian. It is funny how things work out.
He was playing where his dad got to see him one last time, he was playing with fellow Latvians and his American friend Darby.
His wife and kids are with family and friends and not alone to deal with the grief and loss. If he had to go, he was with family and friends when he was called. It would have been a lot harder on his wife and kids if he passed on here....just one way to look at it. Even in death, someone was looking out for him.

[Latvian]

It's second death in Latvian sports this year....earlier this year young Latvian national basketball player Raimonds Jumikis died with similar symptoms while playing for his club in Sweden...

Also, few weeks ago Lithuanian basketball player Stumbris died of heart failure while playing in Lithuanian league....

As far as I remember 3 soccer players have died in Europe from same mysterious symptoms as well...

It can't be coinsidence...

[Veca]

It's second death in Latvian sports this year....earlier this year young Latvian national basketball player Raimonds Jumikis died with similar symptoms while playing for his club in Sweden...

Also, few weeks ago Lithuanian basketball  player Stumbris died of heart failure while playing in Lithuanian league....

As far as I remember 3 soccer players have died in Europe from same mysterious symptoms as well...

It can't be coinsidence...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree with you Latvian. With the way everything was polluted, the radiation from Chernobel (sp?) and who knows what else, could it be the cause of weakened hearts??? It may be years before we learn the truth. I just hope that someone will try to find out before more young people die so suddenly. There has to be some way to help these young people....it's just downright scary.

[Barmy Army]

This is sad news my condolences to his family and friends.

[Latvian]

Jumikis death raised a lot of questions in Sweden and here in Latvia about professional sports....Teams have doctors, but noone realy monitors athletes health regullary...only when they need to sign contract....

In Jumikis case it turned out that doctors were informed that he had a heart problem, but noone did anything to prevent him form playing.. it was a big scandal in Sweden...

In Latvia most of the professionals agreed that there is a need of regular health checks especially for kids and young atheletes... like it was in Soviet times....As far as remember from my days in a canoeing, I had to do regular tests otherways I couldn't train or compete...

[Veca]

But Zholtok WAS checked here by good doctors. He even went to the Mayo clinic from what I was reading on one of the Minnesota Wild boards. You can't get better medical care than that.....so why did he die anyway???

[Latvian]

Yes.. he was checked last year ....and was cleared to play a week later... somebody had to do something about it or advise him to finnish his careeer... I don't uderstand?!

Maybe they did it, but he just wouldn't listen...I guess we woulnd't find out the truth....


BTW Today there will be memorial meating here in Riga...
Let's light a candle too!

[Latvian]

Sergey Zholtok 1972 -2004 RIP

[duck35]

I read the bad news in my TSN's newsletter, right now.
It's incredible and I'm so sad... My condolences to the family, friends and fans.

[THE Mighty Duck Man 84]

definitely a terrible loss for the hockey community ... i hope they can find out what exactly it was an prevent others from facing a similar consequence ... my condolences to his family and friends

[Pavlo]

It's sad news.........
RIP