Andrey Tarasenko was development trainer, coach for HC Sibir in Russia since 2008; he was 56

Condolences go out to former St. Louis Blues winger Vladimir Tarasenko, whose father Andrey Tarasenko suddenly passed away at the age of 56, as confirmed by HC Sibir of the KHL.

The elder Tarasenko, who has been the developmental trainer and head/assistant coach for the Novosibirsk club since 2008, had been to St. Louis to see his son Vladimir play and at least on one occasion attended the the Blues dad's trip.

The statement read: 

Today, at the age of 56, development coach and legendary Sibir striker of the 2000s Andrei Tarasenko suddenly died.Andrey Vladimirovich was born in Novosibirsk, a graduate of the Sibir hockey school. In his youth he played for the local team SKA, and then for many years he played for Yaroslavl Torpedo and Tolyatti Lada, where he was recognized as the top scorer and the most valuable player of the Russian championship. In the 2001/2002 season, Tarasenko returned to his hometown and helped Sibir reach the Super League, scoring 75 points in 67 matches. After finishing his hockey career, Andrei Vladimirovich successfully worked on the coaching staff of our team (2008-2024) and helped Sibir achieve the highest result in history - bronze medals in the KHL championship. 

The Sibir hockey club expresses deep and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Andrei Vladimirovich. 

Bright memory.

Vladimir Tarasenko, who recently signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings, spent the first 10-plus seasons with the Blues after they drafted him with the 16th pick of the 2010 NHL Draft. He recently won his second Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers after winning his first with the Blues in 2019.

The Blues traded Tarasenko to the New York Rangers late in the 2022-23 season and he has since had stops with New York, Ottawa Senators, Panthers and now Red Wings.

HC Sibir general director Lev Krutokhvostov said in a statement:

I still don’t believe what happened. I knew Andrei Vladimirovich very well; we played together for a long time on the same team, on the same line. He was a reliable friend, comrade and teammate, a first-class specialist and coach. This is an irreparable loss for our entire hockey. Andrei Vladimirovich forever wrote himself into the history of the Sibir hockey club. We offer our condolences to family and friends.

Andrey Tarasenko was also an ice hockey player, playing the majority of his career in Russia and retired following the 2005-06 season with Kazakhmis Karaganda in Kazakhstan. He won a gold medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics and also played for Russia in the 1995 World Cup of Hockey.