Alexei Zaitsev, founder of the amateur hockey club Stalker, which competes in the Night Hockey League, has died at the age of 55. The news circulated through a team channel and was shared among players, coaches, and fans who recalled him as a leading figure in Moscow’s hockey community.
Officials indicated that Zaitsev died during training, and there was a possibility that a ruptured blood clot contributed to the tragedy. He was described by teammates as a skilled player, a respected president of Stalker, and a tireless advocate for their home arena.
In his youth, Zaitsev played for Dynamo Moscow, sharing the ice with talents such as Alexei Zhamnov, and later wore the CSKA uniform where he skated alongside Pavel Bure, Sergei Zubov, and Alexander Mogilny. Those seasons shaped his understanding of high-level competition and team culture.
Zaitsev founded the Stalker team in 2014 and played as a forward for the club. The squad rose to prominence in the 2016/17 season by winning gold in the Night Hockey League, a Russian amateur sports organization established in 2011 at the initiative of leading hockey players and the state. The victory brought a donation of 100 million rubles to the club, funds that were directed toward building an ice arena in one of Moscow’s districts, expanding opportunities for local players and fans.
The hockey community will remember Zaitsev for his leadership, his on-ice skill, and his dedication to creating pathways for amateur players to compete at a higher level. His passing marks a significant moment for Stalker and the broader Moscow hockey scene, leaving a lasting imprint on the sport and the fans who followed his teams.