Hockey world mourns the tragic passing of 27-year-old Russian defenseman

For many in the hockey community, this summer has been incredibly tragic. Following the tragic deaths of Jason Cirone, Stephen Peat, and Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau in the past few months, the hockey community tragically added another number to that figure, this time from Russia.

The VHL and MHL defenseman Yegor Sorokin of Russia passed away on Saturday at the age of 27, according to an Instagram post from the Hockey Worldwide account:

After playing professionally for teams including CSK VVS Samara, Gornyak Uchaly, Tolpar Ufa, Reaktor Nizhnekamsk, Ariada Volzhsk, and Avto Yekaterinburg, Sorokin last played hockey for the Molot-Prikamie Perm of the MHL in 2021.

Though he was never well-known in North America, he finished his career with 13 goals and 51 assists in 329 games across both leagues. It's never easy to hear about the loss of a hockey player, no matter where they play. Yegor undoubtedly had supporters and admirers in Russia, and his passing serves as a sobering reminder of how fleeting life is and the importance of appreciating each day.

In order for a larger audience to appreciate players like Sorokin, it might be in the NHL's best interest to implement a way to educate and make it easier to watch more international hockey. While the European games are a good place to start, they should regularly have more options available like in other sports such as soccer.

We would like to send our deepest condolences to Yegor Sorokin's family and friends. He was taken far too soon.