(DailyDig.com) – An announcement on June 26 from the NHL Alumni Association revealed that a former player for the Toronto Maple Leafs had suddenly died at 52 years of age.
The announcement stated that Sergei Berezin’s death saddened them. They offered their sympathies to Berezin’s family, friends, fans, and teammates, who shared their grief during this time. The post added that they request respect for the family and their privacy. The association did not give a cause for his death.
Berezin was born in Russia and played four seasons there between 1990 and 1994. In 1991, Berezin played in the World Juniors for the Soviet Union, winning them a silver medal.
He then played two seasons in Germany, from 1994 to 1996. He scored 49 goals in his last year with the Cologne Sharks. Toronto selected him in the 10th round of the 1994 NHL Draft the following year. He made his debut as a Toronto Maple Leafs player two years after the draft.
That first year, he scored 25 goals and was named to play on the NHL All-Rookie Team. During the 1998–1999 season with the Leafs, Berezin scored 37 goals and made 22 assists, giving the team 59 points. That was his best season playing hockey, as all of his goals and assists were the best of his career.
During his best season accomplishments, Berezin gained additional points during the playoff games by scoring six goals with six assists. With his help in scoring the game and series-winning goal against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Leafs made it to the finals in the Eastern Conference. The Buffalo Sabres beat them in the Eastern Conference finals, and Buffalo finally lost to the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Phoenix Coyotes received Berezin in a trade in 2001, and then he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. In the last season of his career, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals.
His career stats include scoring 126 goals with 94 assists.
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