Sergei Berezin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sergei Yevgenyevich Berezin (Russian: Сергей Евгеньевич Берёзин; born November 5, 1971 in Voskresensk, Russia) is a former NHL player from 1996-97 through 2002-03. Berezin who played left wing in the NHL was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the tenth round (#256 overall) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. Berezin is perhaps best known for his days with the Leafs, when you could turn on a Toronto game and fully expect to see him flying in on the off-wing, without a helmet.
Berezin set an NHL record on November 24, 1996 against the Detroit Red Wings when he lost his helmet on every shift of the game. When asked about the feat following the game, Berezin claimed he did not feel he had "done anything unusual".
[edit] Playing career
Upon being selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the tenth round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Berezin played in the Deutsche Eishockey League (DEL) for the Kölner Haie (Cologne Sharks) where he registered 137 total points in just 88 games played. From 1990-1994 Sergei played in Russia for the Voskresensk Khimik, where in 1993-1994 he picked up 41 points in 40 games.
In his first season in the NHL which was in 1996-1997 Berezin scored 25 goals and had 41 points in 73 games. That was good enough for earning a spot on the NHL all-rookie team. His best season of his NHL career was in 1998-1999 where he picked up 37 goals and 59 points. After the 2000-2001 season Berezin was traded from Toronto to the Phoenix Coyotes.
Over the next two seasons Sergei would participate for four different NHL franchises. In 2001-2002 Berezin played for the Coyotes and the Montreal Canadiens. While playing for the Canadiens, Berezin scored the 10,000th goal at home of the franchise's history. In the following season he would play for another two teams this time suiting up for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals.
Berezin's last season in pro hockey was in 2003-2004 where he returned to play hockey in Russia with CSKA Moscow where in 16 games he had one goal and 4 total points.
