Alexei Cherepanov was the 17th overall pick in the 2007 draft. He was playing in a Continental Hockey League game Monday in Russia when he collapsed on the bench and died. Very shocking.

Stunned I was when I heard this announcement at the start of the Rangers/Devils game yesterday. A heart attack at 19????? Unheard of. I am going to guess the kid had some kind of heart defect. Just a stunning loss.

Sad story indeed with thousands attending his funeral.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/517823

Perhaps he could have been saved had there been a Defribillator in the arena as was the case at Joe Louis Arena when Red Wings player Jiri Fischer was likely saved because of the presence of one. I believe they have made it mandatory that there be one at all Ontario arenas and community centres.
http://www.mhp.gov.on.ca/english/news/2007/032907.asp

Certainly the extensive testing done by the Raptors helped in identifying a heart problem for their player Nathan Jawai. In fact the Raptors even go one step further with use of heart monitors during practice even.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/NBA/article/515936