Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Champion Sergei Mnatsakanov passes away at 71

Sergei Mnatsakanov, a former massage therapist for the Red Wings, who was involved in a limousine accident and sustained life-threatening injuries just days after the Detroit's first Stanley Cup victory in 42 years on June 7, 1997, has sadly passed away on Friday.

Mnatsakanov was left paralyzed from the waist down and spent several weeks in a coma following the accident, which occurred after a golf outing with a few of his former teammates at The Orchards golf course in Washington Township.

Two teammates Vladimir Konstantinov and Slava Fetisov were also injured in the crash. Ferisov sustained minor injuries and played the following season, unfortunately Konstantinov's career was cut short due to severe head injuries that resulted in paralysis.

Former athletic therapist of the Red Wings, John Wharton, expressed his condolences upon heading the news, saying he was "saddened" by the loss of his former colleague and teammate.

On behalf of everyone at NY Rangers Insider we send our deepest condolences to the entire Mnatsakanov family during this tragic time.

As seen on: Hockeypatrol
Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup champion Sergei Mnatsakanov tragically passes away