Remembering Yevgeny Khatsey, Director of the Avangard Academy and former hockey player

May 25 is a black day in the modern history of Omsk hockey. At first it seemed that all the sadness of the Avangard fans would be associated with the departure of Alexander Krylov from the club. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, who led the “hawks” to the championship and returned the team to Omsk to a new arena, left his post after five years. However, a change in leadership, no matter how significant, is nothing compared to a person’s life.

Just a few hours after Krylov’s statement, the city on the banks of the Irtysh was shocked by another piece of news. Yevgeny Khatsey died. For the public, especially the general public, not such a well-known character. Not to say that it is not at all public, but definitely much more modest. Recently, he served as director of the Avangard Academy, but in different years of his life he served the Omsk club in different roles. But always – faithfully.

They say that Khatsei became ill right at the Academy, at the place of work. Like, he smoked one cigarette after another. We can only guess whether his experiences were connected with the departure of Krylov. But what should be said with complete confidence: for the majority of Avangard employees, the decision of their big boss turned out to be extremely unexpected. So Hatsey certainly could not perceive him indifferently. After all, like Krylov, he was deeply immersed in the process of preparing a worthy shift.

Khatseyu suddenly became ill. He collapsed without getting up. Academy employees called an ambulance, but failed to pump out the functionary and former hockey player. But he was only 46 years old. Looks like a strong man. Family, two children. And just two years ago, his older brother, Igor, passed away. Khatsej Sr. at that time was only 48 years old. Terrible coincidence. Or genetics?

For Avangard, this is a big loss, not only from a human point of view, but also from a sports point of view. From the moment the Omsk club opened its own Academy, it was headed by different people. But no one stayed long. Sometimes the directors were changed after a few months, sometimes with a scandal. And only with the advent of Khatsey to this position in the Omsk alma mater did order and calm come.

He was characterized as a “world man”, an honest man and a strong professional. Eugene is not from Omsk, he was born in Chelyabinsk. However, he has many warm memories in common with Avangard. First of all, the 2004 championship. Soloists there, of course, completely different people. For example, Maxim Sushinsky, who years later, having become the president of Avangard himself, will call Khatsei to the Omsk club for the post of director of sports operations. Because I trusted. Because I felt a friendly shoulder.

Eugene was not a star. But he’s the kind of player you can rely on. Both on and off the ice. He plows on the defensive, goes to someone else’s penny, insures a partner. A real hard worker from the fourth link, without which cups are not won. Having ended his career at the age of 33, Hatzei went into management. First – a modest “Kuban”, then – “Ugra”, not yet expelled from KHL. And, of course, return to Omsk. It seemed that it was in this city that he finally found his place. And as it turned out, his life was interrupted here …

The Sport24 editors offer their condolences to the family and friends of Yevgeny Khatsey.