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It is onerous to discover a younger hockey participant who would not dream of placing on the jersey of an NHL group and enjoying a sport with him not less than as soon as in his life. Most gamers enter the league abroad via the draft, however proficient defenseman Artem Kopot was to not play for Pittsburgh, as he tragically handed away .

“He had a implausible profession forward of him.”

Kopot was one of the vital proficient defenders of his technology. Chelyabinsk Traktor coaches observed the quick defensive participant on the age of 17. Artyom additionally preferred the management of the Commonwealth of Impartial States (CIS) youth group. The hockey participant went to the 1992 World Championship for hockey gamers beneath 20 years of age with a 12 months and a half of expertise enjoying at an grownup stage.

– We have been collectively from the primary days at Traktor faculty, we turned pals instantly. Our birthday is on the identical day, we have a good time it collectively. Earlier than this occasion, we agreed the place we’d meet and who we’d invite. A really proficient man, robust and technical on the identical time. An excellent profession was ready for him,” Ravil Gusmanov spoke about Artyom’s enjoying qualities in an interview with RussianHockeyStyle.Ru.

The match in Germany was a hit for our hockey gamers. The gamers, drawn from unbiased post-Soviet states, gained six out of seven video games, shedding solely to the Czechs. On the identical time, the unstable Canadians have been destroyed with a rating of seven:2. Kopot was additionally very outstanding in our group’s video games.

“I needed to play at dwelling for one more 12 months”

Many CIS group members have been in excessive demand on the NHL draft. Already within the first spherical, seven Russians have been chosen. Their groups scored the identical quantity within the second. Soot was not chosen till the sixth spherical, 139th total. However such a late choice meant nothing: the identical participant Pavel Datsyuk, six years later, was the 171st participant to depart the 1998 draft.

Pittsburgh turned fascinated with Artyom. For the Penguins, this selection of defender turned vital. Earlier than this, the group from Pennsylvania had by no means drafted hockey gamers from Russia. Pittsburgh was prepared to ask the defender instantly, however he determined to remain in his dwelling nation for one more season.

“Proper after the draft, he was referred to as to the NHL, to Pittsburgh, however he did not go, he needed to play at dwelling for one more 12 months, acquire energy and expertise on the base of Traktor,” Gusmanov recollects.

Sadly, Artyom didn’t handle to return overseas. Only a month after the draft, Kopot was returning dwelling in his Zhiguli automobile. In line with Gusmanov, the younger hockey participant was distracted and misplaced management. The highway was empty, however that did not assist. The automobile crashed right into a pole at excessive velocity.

Using behind him was teammate Andrei Sapozhnikov. He pulled out the injured Artyom and took him to the hospital, however he couldn’t save the proficient defender. He by no means succeeded in reaching even the smallest stage of his potential.

In reminiscence of the participant in Traktor, to today nobody chooses the fourth quantity that Kopot would put on. Chelyabinsk additionally holds a daily pre-season match in reminiscence of the defender.