Sergei Zholtok facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sergei Zholtok |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Žoltoks with Latvia
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | December 2, 1972 Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | November 3, 2004 (aged 31) Minsk, Belarus |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shot | Right | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | Dinamo Riga Boston Bruins Ottawa Senators Montreal Canadiens Edmonton Oilers Minnesota Wild Nashville Predators Riga 2000 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team |  Latvia |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NHL Draft | 55th overall, 1992 Boston Bruins |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 1990–2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sergejs Žoltoks (born December 2, 1972 – died November 3, 2004) was a talented professional ice hockey player from Latvia. He played as a centre and spent ten seasons in the top North American league, the National Hockey League (NHL). During his career, he played for several famous teams. These included the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and Nashville Predators.
Contents
Sergejs Žoltoks: An Ice Hockey Star
Sergejs Žoltoks was a well-known name in the world of ice hockey. He was born in Riga, which was then part of the Soviet Union. Sergejs started his professional career in 1990. He quickly showed great skill on the ice.
Early Career and NHL Journey
Sergejs Žoltoks was chosen by the Boston Bruins in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. This is a special event where NHL teams pick young players. Before joining the NHL, he won a gold medal. This was with the USSR national team at the 1992 Junior World Championships.
After playing a few games with the Boston Bruins, Sergejs spent some years in minor leagues. These leagues help players develop their skills. He returned to the NHL in the 1996–97 season. He then played for several different teams. These included the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and Edmonton Oilers. Later, he joined the Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators.
During the 2004–05 NHL season, there was a player lockout. This meant no games were played in the NHL. Sergejs returned to Latvia to play for HK Riga 2000. He played in the Latvian Hockey Higher League and the Belarusian Extraleague.
Throughout his ten seasons in the NHL, Sergejs played in 588 regular season games. He scored 111 goals and made 147 assists. This shows he was a valuable player for his teams.
A Talented Player's Achievements
Sergejs Žoltoks received several awards during his career. These awards recognized his hard work and skill on the ice.
- 1994: He was named the AHL Player of the Week in December. The AHL is a major minor league.
- 1996: He won the Ironman Award in the International Hockey League. This award goes to a player who plays every game for their team. It also recognizes outstanding offensive and defensive skills.
- 2005: After his passing, Riga Secondary School No. 55 was named in his honor. This shows how much he was respected in his home country.
Remembering Sergejs Žoltoks
Sadly, Sergejs Žoltoks passed away on November 3, 2004. He was playing a game in Belarus for Riga 2000. Sergejs had a heart condition. During the game, he felt unwell and left the ice. He collapsed and passed away shortly after. Doctors later confirmed his death was due to heart failure.
This was not the first time he had experienced heart issues. In 2003, he had to leave a game and stay in the hospital overnight. He was allowed to return to playing after missing a few games. Sergejs was survived by his wife, Anna, and their two sons. He is remembered as a dedicated player and a kind person.
