Margarita Cherepanova, mother Alexey Cherepanov in an interview with , she recalled the day the hockey player died.
On October 13, 2008, 15 years ago, during the match between Vityaz and Avangard, the heart of 19-year-old hockey player Cherepanov stopped. Today’s KHL match between Avangard and Dynamo Moscow will be dedicated to his memory.
— Do you remember that dark day? How did you learn of the death of your son?
— On October 13, Alexey called me. We usually never spoke on the phone on game day. We only spoke after the match. My son even scolded me if I called him before hockey. And then he called. I was very surprised: “What is happening? Have you ever played? – “No, we’re going to the game.” – “Why are you calling?” “Just say I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I had a train ticket in my hands. In the evening I left Barnaul. I answer him: “No need to meet me, I will get there myself, I will arrive in Omsk at 11 o’clock. And you have just arrived from the start. So rest up, I’ll go home myself. “No,” he said, “I will definitely meet you.”
It was our last conversation. I boarded the train and my husband Andrei accompanied me. And already on October 14, around 1:40 in the morning, my husband’s sister called me: “Margarita, where are you? – “I’m going to Lesha.” – “For what?” – “I mean, why? For a visit.” And she hangs up. I go out into the hall, everyone is asleep. I call her and she doesn’t answer. I called and called – in vain. I dial it for my son. He doesn’t answer it. ‘didn’t take it either. Then he picked up the phone and sobbed. “Dima, what’s wrong? Is there something wrong with Andrei? – “No.” .
I already shouted, “Tell me what happened!” Is there something wrong with Lesha? – “He is no longer.”
I already woke up in the compartment. I don’t know who brought me there. They pumped me with ammonia. I was traveling on the train Rubtsovsk – Omsk. There were many Omsk residents with me. The car lights were on. Everyone tried to say something, give me a drink. There are a lot of calls from journalists.
They met me, the administrator of Avangard, and Lesha’s friend Sasha, who is also no longer alive, got into the car. They brought me to Lesha. There was already an ambulance on site. They gave me some sort of injections.
She only began to come to her senses after nine days. And I didn’t even understand where Alyosha was buried. A day later, I only discovered the place when we went there after the funeral. And if they had sent me alone, I wouldn’t even have found a grave at the Staro-Severny cemetery. I don’t remember anything: how it happened, who was there. Then the relatives told me. I don’t know what type of injection they gave me, but everything was like a fog. The only image that comes to mind is how Lesha’s car was brought to the house. She is standing on the lawn with a portrait of her son – and all in flowers,” Margarita Cherepanova told .
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
