Alexander Karpovtsev facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexander Karpovtsev |
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| Born | April 7, 1970 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
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| Died | September 7, 2011 (aged 41) Yaroslavl, Russia |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Dynamo Moscow New York Rangers Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Blackhawks New York Islanders Sibir Novosibirsk Lokomotiv Yaroslavl Florida Panthers Avangard Omsk |
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| National team |  Soviet Union and Russia |
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| NHL Draft | 158th overall, 1990 Quebec Nordiques |
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| Playing career | 1987–2007 | ||
Alexander Georgievich Karpovtsev (born April 7, 1970 – died September 7, 2011) was a talented Russian ice hockey player. He played as a defenceman. Later, he became an assistant coach.
Karpovtsev played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). These included the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders, and Florida Panthers. He also played for Russian teams like HC Dynamo Moscow and Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
A big moment in his career was winning the Stanley Cup in 1994. He won it with the New York Rangers. He was one of the first Russian players to have his name on the famous trophy. He won alongside Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Zubov, and Sergei Nemchinov.
Sadly, Alexander Karpovtsev died in a plane crash in 2011. He was an assistant coach for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl at the time.
Contents
A Champion on Ice
Early Career and NHL Start
Alexander Karpovtsev began his professional hockey journey in Russia. He played for HC Dynamo Moscow. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1990. This meant an NHL team chose him to play for them.
In 1993, he joined the New York Rangers. This was his big step into the NHL. He quickly became an important player for the team.
Winning the Stanley Cup
The 1993–94 season was amazing for Karpovtsev. His team, the New York Rangers, made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. They won the championship that year. This was a huge achievement for any hockey player.
It was also a special moment for Russian hockey players. Karpovtsev and three other Russian teammates became the first from their country to win the Stanley Cup. Their names were carved into the trophy forever.
Moving Between Teams
After his time with the Rangers, Karpovtsev played for other NHL teams. He joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1998. Later, he moved to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2000. He also had short stays with the New York Islanders and Florida Panthers.
He was known as a strong defenceman. He helped protect his team's goal. He played in nearly 600 NHL games during his career.
Life After Playing
Becoming a Coach
After retiring as a player, Karpovtsev stayed in hockey. He became an assistant coach. He coached for Ak Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). This is a major hockey league in Europe and Asia.
Later, he became an assistant coach for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. This was another well-known team in the KHL. He was helping to train new players.
Tragic End
On September 7, 2011, a terrible event happened. Alexander Karpovtsev was on a plane with his team, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. They were traveling to play a game in Minsk.
The plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Almost the entire team, including players and coaches, died in the accident. It was a very sad day for the hockey world. Karpovtsev was 41 years old.
