The National Hockey League's Alumni Association announced on June 26 that former NHL player Sergei Berezin has died. He was 52 years old.
“The NHL Alumni Association is saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Sergei Berezin at the age of 52,” they wrote in X. “In his retirement, he enjoyed coaching minor hockey, playing tennis, and most importantly, spending time with his family. Our condolences to Sergey's family, friends, and former teammates at this very difficult time.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs also released a statement on social media.
“We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Sergei Berezin,” the Leafs said. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
Drafted by the Maple Leafs in the 10th round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Berezin spent the next two seasons playing in the German Deutsche Elite League (DHL). Once he moved to North America, he became a productive forward on the Maple Leafs roster, scoring 25 goals and 16 assists for 41 points in 73 games and earning a spot on the NHL's All-Rookie team.
His most productive season came in 1998-99 when the Russian player scored a career-best 37 goals and 22 assists for a team-high 59 points.
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Perhaps the greatest goal of his career came in the second round of the 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when in Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Berezin scored the game-winning goal, tying the series at 2-2. Toronto won the next two games to advance to the Eastern Conference Final, where they lost in five games to the Buffalo Sabres.
After scoring 22 goals and 50 points in 2000–01, he signed with the Phoenix Coyotes before the 2001–02 season and was eventually traded to the Montreal Canadians before dealing with the Chicago Blackhawks and finishing his NHL career with the Washington Capitals.
He played one season with CSKA Moscow of the Russian Super League and officially retired from hockey.
In seven NHL seasons, Berezin scored 160 goals and 126 assists for 286 points in 502 NHL games. He also appeared in 52 Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points, including 12 points in 17 games with the Maple Leafs during their 1999 run.
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