Life, death and hockey

By Cecile Nguyen

New York Ranger prospect Alexei Cherepanov died Monday night during a hockey game in Moscow after he suffered an apparent heart attack.

He was 19.

Cherepanov was talking with his teammate and former captain of the Rangers Jaromir Jagr on the bench during a Continental Hockey League game. Cherepanov was playing with his team, Avangard Omsk, when he suddenly collapsed on the bench.

Attempts to revive him failed, and he was declared dead shortly thereafter.

The highly touted prospect had scored the first goal of the game.

Cherepanov was chosen 17th overall in the 2007 National Hockey League draft by the Rangers, and he helped Russia win the 2007 world junior championship.

The Rangers observed a moment of silence before their game Monday night against the New Jersey Devils.

Last May, Vancouver Canucks prospect Luc Bourdon died in a motorcycle crash.

He was 21.

The Canucks chose Bourdon 10th overall in the 2005 draft. He also led the Canadian junior national team to back-to-back world junior championships.

Bourdon played 27 games with Vancouver, scored two goals and tallied 20 penalty minutes.

The Canucks honored Bourdon's memory with a video tribute during their season-opener last Thursday and also unveiled the Luc Bourdon Wall of Dreams at GM Place, the Canucks' home arena.

The hockey community lost two very promising players who had tremendous potential before their lives were cut short.

But if there is anything we can take away from such tragic events it serves as a reminder to us all that life is unpredictable.

I know people are always saying that you can't take life for granted, and you should live every day like it is going to be your last.

Sadly, many of us just brush these comments off.

"Yeah, yeah, sure. I'll just deal with it all tomorrow," I tell myself and push it to the back of my mind.

Cherepanov and Bourdon were our age. They could have been our classmates, our friends.

Putting it all in that context does make their deaths that much harder to swallow.

Both Cherepanov and Bourdon living out their dreams and doing what they loved -- playing professional hockey.

Act on your potential before it is too late. Do what you said you've always wanted to do.

Chase your dreams now.