MOSCOW - The Continental Hockey League suspended five officials on Friday in connection with the death last year of rising star Alexei Cherepanov.
The 19-year-old Cherepanov, a first-round draft pick of the New York Rangers in 2007, died in October after collapsing on the Avangard Omsk bench during a game at Vityaz Chekhov. An autopsy showed he suffered from a chronic condition that obstructed blood flow to the heart and other organs.
Avangard's president, general manager and one of its team doctors were suspended indefinitely from positions in the league. Vityaz's president was also suspended.
There had been complaints that Vityaz improperly organized medical services at the arena.
