Sergei Zholtok

Sergei Zholtok (Latvian: Sergejs ?oltoks, Russian: ?????? ??????) (Born December 2, 1972 in Riga, Latvia (then USSR); died November 3, 2004) was a Latvian (ethnic Russian) professional ice hockey player.

Playing career

Zholtok was drafted by the Boston Bruins 55th overall in 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to being drafted, he won a gold medal with USSR national team in IIHF Junior World Championships in 1991. After playing 26 games with the Boston Bruins in the 1992-93 NHL season and the 1993-94 NHL season, Zholtok spent the next years playing in minor leagues.

Related Topics:
Boston Bruins - 1992 NHL Entry Draft - IIHF Junior World Championships - 1992-93 NHL season - 1993-94 NHL season

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Zholtok returned to NHL in the 1996-97 NHL season with the Ottawa Senators. In the following years, he played for the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators.

Related Topics:
1996-97 NHL season - Ottawa Senators - Montreal Canadiens - Edmonton Oilers - Minnesota Wild - Nashville Predators

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During the 2004 NHL lockout, Zholtok returned to Latvia and played for the "Riga 2000" team in the Latvian national hockey championship and the Open Belarus hockey championship. On November 3, 2004, his cardiac arrhythmia resurfaced during the game between "Riga 2000" (Latvia) and "Dinamo" (Minsk). Zholtok left the game with 5 minutes remaining, collapsing and dying after returning to the dressing room. Belarusian doctors said he died from a massive myocardial infarction. This was not the first occurrence; in January 2003 he had to leave a game due to this arrythmia, and had been observed in hospital overnight. He was allowed to return to play after missing seven games.

Related Topics:
2004 NHL lockout - Belarus - Cardiac arrhythmia - Minsk - Myocardial infarction - January - 2003

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During his 10 years in the NHL he played in 588 regular-season games, scored 111 goals and had 147 assists. He is survived by wife, Anna, and sons Edgar and Nikita.

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