Roman Lyashenko
Encyclopedia
Roman Lyashenko was a Russian ice hockey
player. He played professionally in North America for the Dallas Stars
and New York Rangers
of the National Hockey League
, and also suited up for affiliate teams in the American Hockey League
(AHL) (Utah Grizzlies
and Hartford Wolfpack) and the now-defunct International Hockey League (IHL) (Michigan K-Wings). Lyashenko also played professionally in Russia
for Yaroslavl Torpedo before joining the Stars. He was drafted by the Stars in the second round (52nd overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft
. He represented Russia internationally at both the junior and senior levels, capturing three medals at the World Junior Championships
and another at the World Championships
. Lyashenko committed suicide
while on vacation with his family on July 7, 2003.
by the Dallas Stars
. Leading up to the draft, scouts described him as a defensive forward with good character and leadership skills. He was considered an atypical Russian prospect due to his attention to defensive play. Some previews for the draft had him ranked as a first round prospect.
He signed with the Stars in July, 1999.
Lyashenko made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars during the 1999–2000 season, seeing action in 58 games, while recording six goals and six assists. He also spent time with the Stars' International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate Michigan K-Wings, notching five points in nine games. During his rookie season in the NHL, Lyashenko played center on the Stars second line, earning praise from coach Ken Hitchcock
, "His game has risen beyond his years. He's 20 years old in age only. He looks like a real good fit for us." The Stars went to the Stanley Cup
Finals this season, but lost to the New Jersey Devils
. In the Stars' first round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers
, Lyashenko scored the winning goal in the first game of the series. During the 2000 Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche
, Lyashenko scored the series clinching goal in game 7. Lyashenko played in 16 playoff games for the Stars. During the playoffs in his rookie season, Hitchcock was happy with Lyashenko's play, saying "He's an exceptional defensive player -- his offensive skills have improved as the season's gone on."
During the 2000–2001 season, Lyashenko again split time between the Stars and the Utah Grizzlies
, who were the Stars' new IHL affiliate. At the end of the season, Lyashenko had played 60 games with the Stars and recorded nine points. At the IHL level, he played in six games and had one assist. Lyashenko was popular with his teammates in Dallas, at one point his teammated lobbied Hitchcock to get him more playing time.
On March 12, 2002, Lyashenko and Martin Rucinsky
were traded to the New York Rangers
for Manny Malhotra
and Barrett Heisten
. During the 2001–2002 season, Lyashenko played for four different teams, the Stars and Rangers at the NHL level as well as the IHL's Grizzlies, and the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League
(AHL). In his last season of professional hockey, Lyashenko played two games with the Rangers in the NHL, and 71 with the Wolfpack in the AHL. He put up the best numbers of his career in North America, with 23 goals and 35 assists. He played in the 2003 AHL All-Star Game, despite having asked for a release midway through the season to return to Russia. The request was denied by the Rangers, but his agent Todd Diamond said there were other teams interested in the forward's services, "Several teams were interested in him because they knew he wasn't a fourth-line guy."
and senior levels. His first experience with Russia's junior team was at the 1997 World Junior Championships
, recording three points in six games as Russia defeated the Czech Republic for the bronze medal. At the 1998 World Junior championships
, Lyashenko again represented Russia, as the team captured a silver medal. In seven games at the tournament, he recorded three assists. Lyashenko captained Russia's team at the 1999 World Junior Championships
, which were held in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
. The Russian team captured the gold medal, defeating Canada in overtime. Lyashenko scored three goals and added two assists in seven games. With the gold medal, Lyashenko and teammate Mikhail Donika
became the only two players to win a medal of each colour (gold, silver and bronze) at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
. Donika played with Lyashenko on all three medal winning World Junior teams.
Lyashenko played in a single tournament at the senior international level, representing Russia at the 2002 World Championships
. He had to leave his AHL team, the Hartford Wolfpck, during their playoff run to join Russia at the tournament. Wolfpack general manager was disappointed to lose Lyashenko from his club, but understood the decision, "Everyone wants to play for his country, and he shouldn't be portrayed as a bad guy. He's a good guy and a good player." In nine games, he recorded two assists and 14 penalty minutes. Russia captured a silver medal at the tournament.
, Turkey
with his mother and sister, Lyashenko was found dead in his hotel room on July 7, 2003. His death was initially reported to be a suicide
. Reports by Turkish police confirmed this, saying that Lyashenko had left a suicide note
and attempted to cut his arms and wrists before hanging himself. A Turkish police officer, speaking anonymously said that Lyashenko apologized for killing himself in the note. New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather
said of Lyashenko, "Roman was a quality individual who had a positive impact on everyone he touched, both on and off the ice." Dallas Stars general manager Doug Armstrong
expressed similar sentiments, "Roman was a quality young man who we were privileged to have in our organization for three years." Lyashenko was buried in Yaroslavl on July 12, 2003. In a strange coincidence, Lyashenko's death was followed shortly by the suicide of Columbus Blue Jackets
prospect Trevor Ettinger
, who might have been his opponent in the AHL during the following season.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. He played professionally in North America for the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, and also suited up for affiliate teams in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) (Utah Grizzlies
Utah Grizzlies
The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
and Hartford Wolfpack) and the now-defunct International Hockey League (IHL) (Michigan K-Wings). Lyashenko also played professionally in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
for Yaroslavl Torpedo before joining the Stars. He was drafted by the Stars in the second round (52nd overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft
1997 NHL Entry Draft
The 1997 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 21 June 1997.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
. He represented Russia internationally at both the junior and senior levels, capturing three medals at the World Junior Championships
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
and another at the World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
. Lyashenko committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
while on vacation with his family on July 7, 2003.
Playing career
Lyashenko spent three seasons playing with Yaroslavl Torpedo in his home country of Russia. In 130 games, he recorded 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points. While playing with Yaroslavl, he was selected in the second round (52nd overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft1997 NHL Entry Draft
The 1997 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on 21 June 1997.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.- Round one :-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
by the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
. Leading up to the draft, scouts described him as a defensive forward with good character and leadership skills. He was considered an atypical Russian prospect due to his attention to defensive play. Some previews for the draft had him ranked as a first round prospect.
He signed with the Stars in July, 1999.
Lyashenko made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars during the 1999–2000 season, seeing action in 58 games, while recording six goals and six assists. He also spent time with the Stars' International Hockey League (IHL) affiliate Michigan K-Wings, notching five points in nine games. During his rookie season in the NHL, Lyashenko played center on the Stars second line, earning praise from coach Ken Hitchcock
Ken Hitchcock
Ken Hitchcock also known as "Hitch" is an NHL hockey coach and pro scout, currently coaching the St. Louis Blues.-Early Years:...
, "His game has risen beyond his years. He's 20 years old in age only. He looks like a real good fit for us." The Stars went to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Finals this season, but lost to the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. In the Stars' first round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Lyashenko scored the winning goal in the first game of the series. During the 2000 Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
, Lyashenko scored the series clinching goal in game 7. Lyashenko played in 16 playoff games for the Stars. During the playoffs in his rookie season, Hitchcock was happy with Lyashenko's play, saying "He's an exceptional defensive player -- his offensive skills have improved as the season's gone on."
During the 2000–2001 season, Lyashenko again split time between the Stars and the Utah Grizzlies
Utah Grizzlies
The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
, who were the Stars' new IHL affiliate. At the end of the season, Lyashenko had played 60 games with the Stars and recorded nine points. At the IHL level, he played in six games and had one assist. Lyashenko was popular with his teammates in Dallas, at one point his teammated lobbied Hitchcock to get him more playing time.
On March 12, 2002, Lyashenko and Martin Rucinsky
Martin Rucinsky
Martin Ručinský is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga. Ručínský was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round as the 20th overall selection in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft on June 22, 1991. Ručinský led the Montreal Canadiens in...
were traded to the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
for Manny Malhotra
Manny Malhotra
Emmanuel Noveen Malhotra is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League , serving as an alternate captain. During his NHL career he has additionally played for the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks and New...
and Barrett Heisten
Barrett Heisten
Barrett Heisten is an American professional ice hockey player.- Playing career:Barrett played high school hockey at Dimond High School in Anchorage....
. During the 2001–2002 season, Lyashenko played for four different teams, the Stars and Rangers at the NHL level as well as the IHL's Grizzlies, and the Hartford Wolfpack of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL). In his last season of professional hockey, Lyashenko played two games with the Rangers in the NHL, and 71 with the Wolfpack in the AHL. He put up the best numbers of his career in North America, with 23 goals and 35 assists. He played in the 2003 AHL All-Star Game, despite having asked for a release midway through the season to return to Russia. The request was denied by the Rangers, but his agent Todd Diamond said there were other teams interested in the forward's services, "Several teams were interested in him because they knew he wasn't a fourth-line guy."
International play
Lyashenko represented Russia internationally at both the juniorRussia men's national junior ice hockey team
The Russian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team in Russia. The team represents Russia at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship, held annually every December and January.-History of Team Russia:Russia competed as a...
and senior levels. His first experience with Russia's junior team was at the 1997 World Junior Championships
1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-5th place game:-Bronze Medal Game:-Gold Medal Game:-Final standings: was relegated for the 1998 World Juniors-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:-Pool B:...
, recording three points in six games as Russia defeated the Czech Republic for the bronze medal. At the 1998 World Junior championships
1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
- Quarterfinals :- Semifinals :- Placement games :- 7th place game :- 5th place game :- Bronze medal game :- Gold medal game :- Relegation round : lost the two game total goal series 17-3 and was relegated for the 1999 World Juniors...
, Lyashenko again represented Russia, as the team captured a silver medal. In seven games at the tournament, he recorded three assists. Lyashenko captained Russia's team at the 1999 World Junior Championships
1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-5th place game:-Bronze medal game:-Gold medal game:-Final ranking:-Scoring leaders:-Pool B:Played at Szekesfehervar and Dunaujvaros, Hungary from December 27 to January 3. Two groups of four played round robins, and then the top three played each of the top three teams...
, which were held in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. The Russian team captured the gold medal, defeating Canada in overtime. Lyashenko scored three goals and added two assists in seven games. With the gold medal, Lyashenko and teammate Mikhail Donika
Mikhail Donika
Mikhail Donika is a Russian ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted in the 9th round, 272nd overall by the Dallas Stars in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft...
became the only two players to win a medal of each colour (gold, silver and bronze) at the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
. Donika played with Lyashenko on all three medal winning World Junior teams.
Lyashenko played in a single tournament at the senior international level, representing Russia at the 2002 World Championships
2002 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
The 2002 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held between April 26 and May 11, 2002 in Gothenburg, Karlstad and Jönköping, Sweden.It was the 66th annual event, and was run by the International Ice Hockey Federation .- Championship :...
. He had to leave his AHL team, the Hartford Wolfpck, during their playoff run to join Russia at the tournament. Wolfpack general manager was disappointed to lose Lyashenko from his club, but understood the decision, "Everyone wants to play for his country, and he shouldn't be portrayed as a bad guy. He's a good guy and a good player." In nine games, he recorded two assists and 14 penalty minutes. Russia captured a silver medal at the tournament.
Death
While on vacation in AntalyaAntalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
with his mother and sister, Lyashenko was found dead in his hotel room on July 7, 2003. His death was initially reported to be a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Reports by Turkish police confirmed this, saying that Lyashenko had left a suicide note
Suicide note
A suicide note or death note is a message that states the author has died by suicide, and left to be discovered and read in anticipation of suicide....
and attempted to cut his arms and wrists before hanging himself. A Turkish police officer, speaking anonymously said that Lyashenko apologized for killing himself in the note. New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather
Glen Sather
Glen Cameron "Slats" Sather is the President and general manager of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He has also served as the head coach of the Rangers, as well as General Manager and coach of the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association and later NHL...
said of Lyashenko, "Roman was a quality individual who had a positive impact on everyone he touched, both on and off the ice." Dallas Stars general manager Doug Armstrong
Doug Armstrong
Douglas "Doug" Armstrong is the General Manager for the NHL's St. Louis Blues. He is also the former General Manager of the Dallas Stars.-Dallas Stars:...
expressed similar sentiments, "Roman was a quality young man who we were privileged to have in our organization for three years." Lyashenko was buried in Yaroslavl on July 12, 2003. In a strange coincidence, Lyashenko's death was followed shortly by the suicide of Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
prospect Trevor Ettinger
Trevor Ettinger
Trevor Ettinger was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman.Ettinger played junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Moncton Wildcats and the Shawinigan Cataractes...
, who might have been his opponent in the AHL during the following season.
International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | Place | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships -Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-5th place game:-Bronze Medal Game:-Gold Medal Game:-Final standings: was relegated for the 1998 World Juniors-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:-Pool B:... |
Russia | WJC | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
| 1998 1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships - Quarterfinals :- Semifinals :- Placement games :- 7th place game :- 5th place game :- Bronze medal game :- Gold medal game :- Relegation round : lost the two game total goal series 17-3 and was relegated for the 1999 World Juniors... |
Russia | WJC | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 1999 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships -Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-5th place game:-Bronze medal game:-Gold medal game:-Final ranking:-Scoring leaders:-Pool B:Played at Szekesfehervar and Dunaujvaros, Hungary from December 27 to January 3. Two groups of four played round robins, and then the top three played each of the top three teams... |
Russia | WJC | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Junior int'l totals | 20 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 10 | ||||
| 2002 2002 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2002 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held between April 26 and May 11, 2002 in Gothenburg, Karlstad and Jönköping, Sweden.It was the 66th annual event, and was run by the International Ice Hockey Federation .- Championship :... |
Russia | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | ||