18-year-old hockey prospect tragically passes away overseas

Tragic news was reported on Tuesday when it was confirmed that 18 year old hockey prospect and forward Roman Zyryanov has passed away. According to the reports, Zyryanov sadly committed suicide after jumping in front of a train back home in Russia.

What a terrible way to go. The details shocked fans and readers on Instagram, especially seeing how young the forward was at the time of his death. 

On his prospect report card, it shows that Zyryanov had one goal, four points through two games played in his last season with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod U18 in 2022-23. He had also played for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod U18 during the 2020-21 campaign. He has managed to collect six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 34 contests.

This is just heartbreaking news, I mean just looking at the post and seeing that the kid was born in 2005 hits you straight in the heart.

Stories like this are a reminder that hockey players and especially young men need to speak more openly about mental health and issues, and must get the necessary help to recover from any problem they may have.

This past season in the NHL, it was reported that participation was up in the NHL and NHLPA’s player assistance program, as it offers help for anything from alcohol or drug abuse to mental health issues, sleeping problems or a gambling addiction.

In 2023-24, Valeri Nichushkin (Colorado), Patrik Laine (Columbus), Evgeny Kuznetsov (then Washington now Carolina) and Ethan Bear (Washington) followed Samuel Girard (Colorado), who was the first of five players to step away this season to receive care from the program. Like Girard, Nichushkin and Kuznetsov returned to play; Bear was cleared just after the Capitals were eliminated from the playoffs. However, Nichushkin was suspended for six months during the postseason for violating terms of the program.

My heart goes out for the family and friends of Zyryanov in this tragic event.