Roman Lyashenko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roman Lyashenko |
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| Born | May 1, 1979 Murmansk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
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| Died | July 5, 2003 (aged 24) Antalya, Turkey |
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| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Torpedo Yaroslavl Dallas Stars New York Rangers |
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| National team |  Russia |
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| NHL Draft | 52nd overall, 1997 Dallas Stars |
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| Playing career | 1995–2003 | ||
Roman Yurievich Lyashenko (born May 1, 1979 – died July 5, 2003) was a talented Russian ice hockey player. He played professionally in North America for the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). He also played for teams in the American Hockey League (AHL) and the International Hockey League. Before joining the NHL, Lyashenko played professionally in Russia for Torpedo Yaroslavl. The Dallas Stars chose him in the second round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
Roman Lyashenko also proudly played for Russia's national ice hockey teams. He won three medals (gold, silver, and bronze) at the World Junior Championships. He also earned a silver medal at the World Championships.
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Roman Lyashenko: Ice Hockey Star
Early Career and Draft
Roman Lyashenko played for three seasons with Torpedo Yaroslavl in Russia. In 130 games, he scored 22 goals and made 22 assists, totaling 44 points. While playing in Russia, the Dallas Stars picked him in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 52nd player chosen overall.
Before the draft, scouts saw him as a strong defensive player. They also noted his good character and leadership skills. He was different from many Russian players because he focused a lot on defense. Some even thought he was good enough to be a first-round pick. He officially signed with the Stars in July 1999.
Playing in the NHL
Lyashenko started his NHL career with the Dallas Stars in the 1999–2000 season. He played in 58 games, scoring six goals and six assists. He also spent some time with the Stars' minor league team, the Michigan K-Wings, where he earned five points in nine games.
During his first NHL season, Lyashenko played as a center on the Stars' second line. His coach, Ken Hitchcock, praised him, saying he played beyond his age. The Stars made it to the Stanley Cup Finals that season but lost to the New Jersey Devils. In the first round of the playoffs, Lyashenko scored the winning goal in the first game against the Edmonton Oilers. He also scored the winning goal in game seven of the Western Conference final against the Colorado Avalanche. He played in 16 playoff games that year. His coach was very happy with his defensive skills and how his offensive game improved.
In the 2000–2001 season, Lyashenko again split his time. He played for the Stars and their new minor league team, the Utah Grizzlies. He played 60 games with the Stars and had nine points. He was well-liked by his teammates in Dallas. They even tried to convince their coach to give him more playing time.
On March 12, 2002, Lyashenko was traded to the New York Rangers. He played for four different teams during the 2001–2002 season. These included the Stars and Rangers in the NHL, and the Grizzlies and Hartford Wolfpack in the minor leagues. In his last season of professional hockey, Lyashenko played two games with the Rangers. He played 71 games with the Wolfpack, where he had his best North American season. He scored 23 goals and made 35 assists. He even played in the 2003 AHL All-Star Game. He had asked to return to Russia during the season, but the Rangers did not agree.
Representing Russia
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Russia |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Bronze | 1997 Geneva | |
| Silver | 1998 Helsinki | |
| Gold | 1999 Winnipeg | |
| World Championships | ||
| Silver | 2002 Gothenburg | |
Lyashenko played for Russia's national teams at both junior and senior levels. His first time playing for the junior team was at the 1997 World Junior Championships. He earned three points in six games. Russia won the bronze medal at that tournament.
At the 1998 World Junior Championships, Lyashenko helped Russia win a silver medal. He made three assists in seven games. He was the captain of Russia's team at the 1999 World Junior Championships in Winnipeg. The Russian team won the gold medal, beating Canada in overtime. Lyashenko scored three goals and had two assists in seven games. With this gold medal, he became one of only two players to win a medal of each color (gold, silver, and bronze) at the World Junior Championships.
Lyashenko played in one major tournament at the senior international level. He represented Russia at the 2002 World Championships. He left his AHL team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, during their playoffs to join the Russian team. His general manager was sad to lose him but understood his desire to play for his country. In nine games, Lyashenko made two assists. Russia won a silver medal at the tournament.
A Sad Farewell
While on vacation in Antalya, Turkey, Roman Lyashenko sadly passed away on July 5, 2003. He was with his mother and sister at the time. New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather said that Roman was a wonderful person who had a positive effect on everyone he met. Dallas Stars general manager Doug Armstrong shared similar feelings, saying Roman was a great young man. Lyashenko was buried in Yaroslavl, Russia, on July 12, 2003.
See also
- List of ice hockey players who died during their playing career
