Goodbye Sergei Zholtok

RIGA, Latvia (AP) -- Latvian hockey players, officials, and fans were saddened Thursday after national star Sergei Zholtok died while playing in Belarus.

Zholtok left the game between Riga 2000, the club he was playing for during the NHL lockout, and Dinamo Minsk about five minutes before it ended on Wednesday night. He went back to the locker room where he collapsed and died, Riga 2000 president Viesturs Kozioles told The Associated Press in Riga.

Paramedics at the arena tried to revive him but were unsuccessful. Zholtok, who was known to have an irregular heartbeat, was 31.

"He was one of the greatest all time players in Latvian hockey history," Guntis Keisels, a sports reporter with the country's leading newspaper Diena, told the AP. "Ten years in the NHL is quite an achievement. He was the best goal scorer, the best forward, Latvia ever produced."

Gathered tidbits (inbetween tears) 1.) Three years ago, Zholtok helped set up an online auction of hockey memorabilia to benefit abused children in Latvia. They arranged to have pucks, sticks and equipment autographed by more than 115 NHL players sold to the highest bidders.
2.) In a convergence of time and place, another former Wild player, Darby Hendrickson, was playing with Riga because of the NHL lockout. He accompanied Zholtok to the locker room. And, according to Sheehy, Zholtok died in Hendrickson's arms.
Said Sheehy, who is Hendrickson's agent: "He told Darby, 'Don't leave.' "
Hendrickson also told him: "I have a deep faith. I was meant to be here."
3.) Zholtok, who was one of only four Latvian players in the NHL last season -- something about which he felt immense pride -- played 588 NHL games with six teams, compiling 258 points.

May the light protect you Sergei, and the powers of the heavens shine upon your path.