Dmitri Uchaykin

Dmitri Uchaykin (Russian: Дмитрий Викторович Учайкин) (June 10, 1980 – March 31, 2013) was a Russian ice hockey left-winger.

Uchaykin was born in Khabarovsk, Soviet Union.^[1]

Hockey career

From 1998 until 2009, Uchaykin played for his hometown team Amur Khabarovsk.^[2] Afterwards, Uchaykin played briefly for HC Yugra (Khanty-Mansiysk), Rubin Tyumen (then "Gazovik"), and Ermak Angarsk.^[2]

Uchaykin last played for Yertis Pavlodar of the Kazakhstan Hockey Championship, since 2010.^[2]

Death

On March 27, 2013^[3] Uchaykin was on the ice for Yertis Pavlodar against Arystan Temirtau in the Kazakhstan Hockey Championship playoffs, when he sustained a high hit from Arystan's Donatas Kumeliauskas. Soon he was taken to the hospital, where he died of cerebral hemorrhage at 4 am on March 31.^[4][5][6]

He was survived by his wife Anna, who was pregnant at the time of his death, and daughter Polina.^[3][7]

A memorial service for Uchaykin was held in Pavlodar on April 2.^[5] Uchaykin was buried in his hometown Khabarovsk on April 4.^[3]

Reactions

The director of Yertis Pavlodar stated to the media that Kumeliauskas's fatal hit on Uchaykin was legal.^[3] Kumeliauskas himself also denied violating the rules.^[8] No disciplinary action was taken against him by the league; nevertheless, Arystan chose to keep Kumeliauskas on the bench during the next game of the series on April 1.^[8]

The club announced that Uchaykin's #17 will be permanently retired, and that it has paid Uchaykin's widow his remaining contract salary at the time of his death.^[3]

External links

• Dmitri Uchaykin's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database

References