Russian Prosecutors Finger Club Officials and Arena Manager in Cherepanov Death

According to a flash report from the Associated Press, Russian prosecutors have fixed the blame for the untimely death of New York Rangers prospect Alexei Cherepanov. As you might recall, Cherepanov, who played for Avangard Omsk, died after returning to the bench during a game with Vityaz in October:

Prosecutors said in a statement posted on their Web site Tuesday that the manager of the Moscow region arena where Cherepanov was playing failed to coordinate proper emergency medical services before the game.

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Investigators said Cherepanov apparently had chronic ischemia - a medical condition where not enough blood gets to the heart or other organs. They said that calls in question the competency of arena manager Yury Afonkin and the director of opposing club KHL club Vityaz. The club director, Mikhail Denisov, has already been fired.

A preliminary report released last month by the KHL absolved the on-site medical staff who were at the game for any blame in Cherepanov's death. As to whether or not this conclusion will result in any prosecutions, Russian authorities have yet to say. In any case, Cherepanov's death certainly has cast a pall over the league's operations, which Russian hockey officials hope one day may challenge the NHL for global supremacy in international ice hockey.