Evgeny Khatsey, a prominent figure in Russian hockey and the longtime director of the Omsk Avant-garde Academy, passed away at the age of 47 on May 25. Reports from Sport-Express and RIA Novosti indicate the cause of death as a heart attack. The hockey community mourns a dedicated mentor and a driving force behind Omsk’s hockey development.
The Avangard hockey club issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the sudden loss of Yevgeny Vladimirovich Khatsey, acknowledging him as a professional who shaped Omsk’s hockey landscape. The team asked media representatives to respect the family during this difficult time.
According to local coverage from Omsk Regional Television, the incident occurred after a regional championship game for youth teams. Medical staff provided immediate care on site, followed by an ambulance arrival to the Avant-garde Academy. Despite every effort by medical teams, Khatsey could not be saved.
Born on September 1, 1976, Khatsey began his playing career in Chelyabinsk with Mechel. His career included stints with Yaroslavl Torpedo, Magnitogorsk Metallurg, Khabarovsk Amur, Novosibirsk Siberia, Omsk Avangard, Vityaz near Moscow, and Tyumen Gazovik. He found notable successes with the Hawks, highlighted by a Super League title in 2004 and the European Champions Cup in 2005 while with Omsk. He also earned a bronze medal at the Russian Championship in 2007, a silver at the Continental Cup in 2007, and was named a master of sports of international class.
Over his top-level career, Khatsey played 592 games, recording 67 goals and 70 assists, and accumulating 612 minutes in penalties. Across all professional appearances, he totaled 808 games, 113 goals, and 88 assists, with 704 minutes in the penalty box. After retiring as a player, he moved into management. He led the Krasnodar Territory Ice Hockey Federation starting in 2010, spent two years as general manager of Kuban, and later held roles in Khanty-Mansiysk and Yuğra between 2015 and 2018.
In 2018, Khatsey returned to Omsk, taking on duties as Director of Hockey Operations and Head of Team Development for the MHL and VHL. He served as general manager of Avangard for two years and acted as vice-president of the club. In May 2022, he was elected head of the Avangard hockey academy, guiding youth development and strategic initiatives for the organization. The Chelyabinsk Tractor Club extended its condolences, noting that Khatsey rose to prominence with Mechel and spent the final years of his life in Omsk as director of hockey operations and academy chief. The Tractor club conveyed its heartfelt sympathies to Khatsey’s family, relatives, and friends.