Alexander Vasyunov

Alexander Sergeevich Vasyunov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Серге́евич Васю́нов; April 22, 1988 – September 7, 2011) was a Russian ice hockey player who played for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the Kontinental Hockey League.[1] Alexander Vasyunov was a prospect for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. He was drafted in the second round 58th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Vasyunov died in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash, along with his entire Lokomotiv team, just outside Yaroslavl, Russia. The team was on its way to Minsk, Belarus to play their 2011–12 season opener with the entire team, coaching staff, and prospects.[2]

Alexander Vasyunov
Born (1988-04-22)April 22, 1988
Yaroslavl, Soviet Union
Died September 7, 2011(2011-09-07) (aged 23)
Yaroslavl, Russia
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Right
Played for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
New Jersey Devils
NHL Draft 58th overall, 2006
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 2004–2011

Playing career

Vasyunov was selected in the second round, 58th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He remained with his Russian team until the 2008–09 season, when he moved to the American Hockey League, playing in Albany, New York. In his third season in the AHL, he was called up to play for the Devils, initially for only one game in October 2010, to fill in for Ilya Kovalchuk. He returned to Albany after that game, but was called back up to join the Devils twice more during the 2010–11 season.[3]

Vasyunov scored his first NHL goal on November 12, 2010, against Devan Dubnyk of the Edmonton Oilers. He re-joined Lokomotiv Yaroslavl on June 27, 2011, signing a one–year contract with the team.[4]

Vasyunov was killed on September 7, 2011, in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash. A Yakovlev Yak-42 passenger aircraft carrying nearly his entire Lokomotiv team crashed on takeoff, just outside Yaroslavl, Russia.[5] The team was traveling to Minsk to play their opening game of the season, with its coaching staff and prospects. Lokomotiv officials said "'everyone from the main roster was on the plane plus four players from the youth team.'"[2][6][7]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Lokomotiv–2 Yaroslavl RUS.3 32 9 2 11 8 — — — — —
2005–06 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl RSL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2005–06 Lokomotiv–2 Yaroslavl RUS.3 29 29 6 35 18 — — — — —
2006–07 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl RSL 17 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2006–07 Lokomotiv–2 Yaroslavl RUS.3 34 17 9 26 56 — — — — —
2007–08 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl RSL 22 4 0 4 4 16 2 0 2 2
2007–08 Lokomotiv–2 Yaroslavl RUS.3 2 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2008–09 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl KHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2008–09 Lokomotiv–2 Yaroslavl RUS.3 2 2 0 2 2 — — — — —
2008–09 Lowell Devils AHL 69 15 13 28 12 — — — — —
2009–10 Lowell Devils AHL 68 16 22 38 10 5 2 2 4 0
2010–11 Albany Devils AHL 50 8 17 25 11 — — — — —
2010–11 New Jersey Devils NHL 18 1 4 5 0 — — — — —
RSL totals 41 4 0 4 10 16 2 0 2 2
AHL totals 187 39 52 91 33 5 2 2 4 0
NHL totals 18 1 4 5 0 — — — — —
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2007 Sweden

International
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2005 Russia U18 4th 5 3 1 4 2
2006 Russia WJC18 5th 6 2 2 4 6
2007 Russia WJC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 2 0 2 2
Junior totals 17 7 3 10 10

See also

References
  1. Chere, Rich (June 28, 2011). "Alexander Vasyunov spurned Devils' two-way contract to return to Russia". The Star-Ledger. New Jersey On-Line. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  2. "First pictures from the crash of Yak-42 near Yaroslavl". Lifenews.ru. 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  3. "Remembering Alexander Vasyunov & His First NHL Goal". In Lou We Trust. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  4. "Vasyunov will play in the KHL next season". Rotoworld. June 27, 2011. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
  5. "Devils' prospect among those killed in Russian hockey team plane crash". 2011-09-07. Archived from the original on 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  6. "The list of Lokomotiv players who died". Lifenews.ru. 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  7. "Pavol Demitra among 43 killed in Russian plane crash". theglobeandmail.com. 2011-09-07. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
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