Editing Roman Lyashenko

{{Short description|Russian ice hockey player (1979–2003)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image =
| caption =
| image_size = 230px
| played_for = [[Lokomotiv Yaroslavl|Torpedo Yaroslavl]]<br />[[Dallas Stars]]<br />[[New York Rangers]]
| position = [[Centre (ice hockey)|Centre]]
| shoots = Right
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 189
| ntl_team = RUS
| birth_date = {{birth date|1979|5|1}}
| birth_place = [[Murmansk]], [[Russian SFSR]], [[Soviet Union]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2003|7|5|1979|5|1}}
| death_place = [[Antalya]], [[Turkey]]
| draft = 52nd overall
| draft_year = 1997
| draft_team = [[Dallas Stars]]
| career_start = 1995
| career_end = 2003
}}
'''Roman Yurievich Lyashenko''' ({{langx|ru|Роман Юрьевич Ляшенко}}; May 1, 1979 – July 5, 2003) was a Russian [[ice hockey]] player. He played professionally in North America for the [[Dallas Stars]] and [[New York Rangers]] of the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) from 1999 to 2002, and also spent time with affiliate teams in the [[American Hockey League]] ([[Utah Grizzlies]] and [[Hartford Wolfpack]]) and the now-defunct [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]] ([[Michigan K-Wings]]). Lyashenko also played professionally in Russia for [[Lokomotiv Yaroslavl|Torpedo Yaroslavl]] before joining the Stars. He was drafted by the Stars in the second round (52nd overall) of the [[1997 NHL Entry Draft]].

Lyashenko represented Russia internationally at both the junior and senior levels, capturing three medals (gold, silver and bronze) at the [[World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|World Junior Championships]] and a silver medal at the [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]]. Lyashenko committed [[suicide]] while on vacation with his family on July 5, 2003.

==Playing career==
Lyashenko spent three seasons playing with [[Lokomotiv Yaroslavl|Torpedo Yaroslavl]] in his home country of Russia. In 130 games, he recorded 22 [[goal (ice hockey)|goals]] and 22 [[assist (ice hockey)|assists]] for 44 points.<ref name=hockeydb>{{cite web|title=Roman Lyashenko|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=36950|publisher=Hockeydb.com|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> While playing with Yaroslavl, he was selected in the second round (52nd overall) of the [[1997 NHL Entry Draft]] by the [[Dallas Stars]].<ref name=nhlprofile>{{cite web|title=Roman Lyashenko|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8466186|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> Leading up to the draft, scouts described him as a defensive forward with good character and leadership skills.<ref name=draftprofile>{{cite web|title=SLAM! 1997 NHL Draft Prospect Profiles: Roman Lyashenko|url=http://www.canoe.ca/DraftProfiles/lyashenko.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115114958/http://www.canoe.ca/DraftProfiles/lyashenko.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> He was considered an atypical Russian prospect due to his attention to defensive play. One source had him ranked as a first round prospect.<ref name=97draft>{{cite news|title=1997 Entry Draft: The Top 20|last=Duhatschek|first=Eric|work=Calgary Herald|date=1997-06-21|page=E5}}</ref> 
He signed with the Stars in July 1999.<ref name=contract>{{cite news|title=Billington dealt to Caps|work=Toronto Star|date=1999-07-17|page=1}}</ref>

Lyashenko made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars during the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]], seeing action in 58 games, while recording six goals and six assists. He also spent time with the Stars' [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]] (IHL) affiliate [[Michigan K-Wings]], notching five points in nine games.<ref name=hockeydb /> During his rookie season in the NHL, Lyashenko played center on the Stars second line, earning praise from coach [[Ken Hitchcock]], "His game has risen beyond his years. He's 20 years old in age only. He looks like a real good fit for us."<ref name=2ndline>{{cite news|title=NHL Notebook: Sheppard a Panther; Florida signs veteran winger to one-year deal|work=The Windsor Star|date=1999-11-16|page=D3}}</ref> The Stars went to the [[Stanley Cup Finals]] that season, but lost to the [[New Jersey Devils]]. In the Stars' first round playoff series against the [[Edmonton Oilers]], Lyashenko scored the winning goal in the first game of the series.<ref name=gwg>{{cite news|title=New face produces familiar result: Stars' rookie gets Cup defence started in style|work=Calgary Herald|last=Brownlee|first=Robin|date=2000-04-13|page=D1}}</ref> During the 2000 Western Conference final against the [[Colorado Avalanche]], Lyashenko scored the series clinching goal in game seven.<ref name=gwg2>{{cite web|title=AHL matinee goes today|work=New Brunswick Telegraph Journal|date=2001-11-13|last=Kennedy|first=Aaron}}</ref> Lyashenko played in 16 playoff games for the Stars.<ref name=hockeydb /> During the playoffs in his rookie season, Hitchcock was happy with Lyashenko's play, saying, "He's an exceptional defensive player -- his offensive skills have improved as the season's gone on."<ref name=gwg />

During the [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–2001 season]], Lyashenko again split time between the Stars and the [[Utah Grizzlies]], who were the Stars' new IHL affiliate. At the end of the season, Lyashenko had played 60 games with the Stars and recorded nine points. At the IHL level, he played in six games and had one assist.<ref name=hockeydb /> Lyashenko was popular with his teammates in Dallas, at one point his teammates lobbied Hitchcock to get him more playing time.<ref name=asg />

On March 12, 2002, Lyashenko and [[Martin Ručinský]] were traded to the [[New York Rangers]] for [[Manny Malhotra]] and [[Barrett Heisten]].<ref name=malhotra>{{cite web|title=Manny Malhotra|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/players/bio/?id=1617 | publisher=TSN|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> During the [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–2002 season]], Lyashenko played for four different teams, the Stars and Rangers at the NHL level as well as the IHL's Grizzlies, and the [[Hartford Wolfpack]] of the [[American Hockey League]] (AHL).<ref name=hockeydb /> In his last season of professional hockey, Lyashenko played two games with the Rangers, and 71 with the Wolfpack. He put up the best numbers of his career in North America, with 23 goals and 35 assists.<ref name=hockeydb /> He played in the 2003 AHL All-Star Game, despite having asked for a release midway through the season to return to Russia. The request was denied by the Rangers, but his agent, Todd Diamond, said there were other teams interested in the forward's services; "Several teams were interested in him because they knew he wasn't a fourth-line guy."<ref name=asg>{{cite web|title=Questions over suicides linger|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/2003-09-18-suicides_x.htm|work=USA Today|date=2003-09-18|access-date=2011-01-06|last=Graves|first=Gary}}</ref>

==International play==
{{MedalTableTop|name=no}} 
{{MedalCountry | {{ih|RUS}} }}
{{MedalSport | [[Ice hockey]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|World Junior Championships]]|}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1997 Geneva]] |}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1998 Helsinki]] |}}
{{MedalGold | [[1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1999 Winnipeg]] |}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2002 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|2002 Gothenburg]] |}}
{{MedalBottom}}
Lyashenko represented Russia internationally at both the [[Russia men's national junior ice hockey team|junior]] and [[Russia men's national ice hockey team|senior]] levels. His first experience with Russia's junior team was at the [[1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1997 World Junior Championships]], recording three points in six games as Russia defeated the Czech Republic for the bronze medal. At the [[1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1998 World Junior championships]], Lyashenko again represented Russia, as the team captured a silver medal. In seven games at the tournament, he recorded three assists.<ref name=nhlprofile /> Lyashenko captained Russia's team at the [[1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1999 World Junior Championships]], which were held in [[Winnipeg]]. The Russian team captured the gold medal, defeating [[Canada men's national junior ice hockey team|Canada]] in overtime. Lyashenko scored three goals and added two assists in seven games.<ref name=nhlprofile /> With the gold medal, Lyashenko and teammate [[Mikhail Donika]] became the only two players to win a medal of each colour (gold, silver and bronze) at the [[World Junior Ice Hockey Championships]].<ref name=iihfmediaguide>{{cite book|title=IIHF Media Guide and Record Book 2011|page=248|publisher=Moydart Press|editor=Podnieks, Andrew}}</ref>

Lyashenko played in a single tournament at the senior international level, representing Russia at the [[2002 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships|2002 World Championships]]. He left his AHL team, the Hartford Wolf Pack, during their playoff run to join Russia at the tournament. Wolf Pack general manager Al Coates was disappointed to lose Lyashenko from his club, but understood the decision: "Everyone wants to play for his country, and he shouldn't be portrayed as a bad guy. He's a good guy and a good player."<ref name=ahlplayoffs>{{cite web|title=Swanson Back At Home In Hamilton|url=https://www.courant.com/2002/04/26/swanson-back-at-home-in-hamilton/|work=Hartford Courant|date=2002-04-26|last=Berlet|first=Bruce|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref> In nine games, he recorded two assists and 14 penalty minutes.<ref name=nhlprofile /> Russia captured a silver medal at the tournament after a shocking loss to Slovakia in the final.

==Death==
While on vacation in [[Antalya]], [[Turkey]] with his mother and sister, Lyashenko was found dead in his hotel room the morning of July 6, 2003.<ref name="nyt">{{cite web|last1=Diamos|first1=Jason|title=HOCKEY; Rangers' Lyashenko Found Dead In Turkey|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/08/sports/hockey-rangers-lyashenko-found-dead-in-turkey.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=5 February 2017|date=8 July 2003}}</ref><ref name=siinitialreport>{{cite magazine|title = Lyashenko dead at 24 | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2003/07/07/rangers_lyashenko_rt/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030804031655/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2003/07/07/rangers_lyashenko_rt/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 4, 2003 | magazine = Sports Illustrated | access-date = 2014-01-18 |date = 2003-07-07}}</ref>  His death was initially reported to be a [[suicide]].<ref name=dead>{{cite news|title=N.Y. Ranger is found dead in hotel room ; Lyashenko on vacation in Turkey Cause of death reported to be suicide|work=Toronto Star|date=2003-07-08|page=E02}}</ref> Reports by Turkish police confirmed this, stating that Lyashenko had left a suicide note and attempted to cut his arms and wrists before hanging himself. A Turkish police officer, speaking anonymously, said that Lyashenko apologized for killing himself in the note.<ref name=suicide>{{cite news|title=Lyashenko's death a suicide, police say|work=Edmonton Journal|date=2003-07-10|page=D6}}</ref> [[New York Rangers]] general manager [[Glen Sather]] said of Lyashenko, "Roman was a quality individual who had a positive impact on everyone he touched, both on and off the ice."<ref name=dead /> [[Dallas Stars]] general manager [[Doug Armstrong]] expressed similar sentiments: "Roman was a quality young man who we were privileged to have in our organization for three years."<ref name=dead /> Lyashenko was buried in [[Yaroslavl]] on July 12, 2003.<ref name=buried>{{cite web|title=PLUS: HOCKEY; Rangers' Lyashenko Is Buried in Russia|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/13/sports/plus-hockey-rangers-lyashenko-is-buried-in-russia.html|work=The New York Times|date=2003-07-13|access-date=2011-01-06}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5"|[[Regular season]]
! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5"|[[Playoffs]]
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! [[Season (sports)|Season]]
! Team
! League
! GP !! [[Goal (ice hockey)|G]] !! [[Assist (ice hockey)|A]] !! [[Point (ice hockey)|Pts]] !! [[Penalty (ice hockey)|PIM]]
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|-
| [[1995–96 Vysshaya Liga season|1995–96]]
| [[Lokomotiv Yaroslavl|Torpedo Yaroslavl-2]]
| [[Russian Major League (1992–2010)|RUS-2]]
| 52 || 6 || 4 || 10 || 12
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1996–97 Russian Superleague season|1996–97]]
| [[Lokomotiv Yaroslavl|Torpedo Yaroslavl]]
| [[Russian Superleague|RSL]]
| 42 || 5 || 7 || 12 || 16
| 9 || 3 || 0 || 3 || 6
|-
| 1996–97
| Torpedo Yaroslavl-2
| RUS-3
| 2 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 0
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1997–98 Russian Superleague season|1997–98]]
| Torpedo Yaroslavl
| RSL
| 46 || 7 || 6 || 13 || 28
| 7 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 14
|-
| [[1998–99 Russian Superleague season|1998–99]]
| Torpedo Yaroslavl
| RSL
| 42 || 10 || 9 || 19 || 51
| 9 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 8
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1999–00 NHL season|1999–00]]
| [[Dallas Stars]]
| [[National Hockey League|NHL]]
| 58 || 6 || 6 || 12 || 10
| 16 || 2 || 1 || 3 || 0
|-
| [[1999–00 IHL season|1999–00]]
| [[Michigan K-Wings]]
| [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|IHL]]
| 9 || 3 || 2 || 5 || 8
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]]
| Dallas Stars
| NHL
| 60 || 6 || 3 || 9 || 45
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[2000–01 IHL season|2000–01]]
| [[Utah Grizzlies (1995–2005)|Utah Grizzlies]]
| IHL
| 6 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]]
| Dallas Stars
| NHL
| 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 2001–02
| [[New York Rangers]]
| NHL
| 15 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2001–02 AHL season|2001–02]]
| Utah Grizzlies
| [[American Hockey League|AHL]]
| 58 || 11 || 25 || 36 || 37
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 2001–02
| [[Hartford Wolf Pack]]
| AHL
| — || — || — || — || —
| 4 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]]
| New York Rangers
| NHL
| 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
| — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [[2002–03 AHL season|2002–03]]
| Hartford Wolf Pack
| AHL
| 71 || 23 || 35 || 58 || 44
| 2 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 0
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | RSL totals
! 130 !! 22 !! 22 !! 44 !! 95
! 25 !! 5 !! 4 !! 9 !! 28
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
! 139 !! 14 !! 9 !! 23 !! 55
! 17 !! 2 !! 1 !! 3 !! 0
|}

===International===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year
! Team
! Event
! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
|-
| [[1997 IIHF European U18 Championship|1997]]
| [[Russia men's national under-18 ice hockey team|Russia]]
| [[IIHF European Junior Championships|EJC]]
| 6 || 4 || 2 || 6 || 8
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1997 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1997]]
| [[Russia men's national junior ice hockey team|Russia]]
| [[IIHF World Junior Championship|WJC]]
| 6 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4
|-
| [[1998 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1998]]
| Russia
| WJC
| 7 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 6
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships|1999]]
| Russia
| WJC
| 7 || 3 || 2 || 5 || 0
|-
| [[2002 IIHF World Championship|2002]]
| [[Russia men's national ice hockey team|Russia]]
| [[Ice Hockey World Championships|WC]]
| 9 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 14
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"| Junior totals
! 20 !! 4 !! 7 !! 11 !! 10
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"| Senior totals
! 9 !! 0 !! 2 !! 2 !! 14
|}

==See also==
* [[List of ice hockey players who died during their playing careers]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Ice hockey stats}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyashenko, Roman}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:2003 suicides]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Dallas Stars draft picks]]
[[Category:Dallas Stars players]]
[[Category:Hartford Wolf Pack players]]
[[Category:Kalamazoo Wings (1974–2000) players]]
[[Category:Lokomotiv Yaroslavl players]]
[[Category:New York Rangers players]]
[[Category:Ice hockey people from Murmansk]]
[[Category:Russian ice hockey centres]]
[[Category:Suicides by hanging in Turkey]]
[[Category:Utah Grizzlies (AHL) players]]
[[Category:Utah Grizzlies (IHL) players]]