Former Predators, Wild center Zholtok dies of heart ailment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nashville Predators center Sergei Zholtok died Wednesday of an apparent heart ailment. He was 31.

Sergei Zholtok scored 111 goals in 588 NHL games.(Getty Images)

The Predators announced that Zholtok died in Latvia where he was playing for Riga 2000 during the NHL lockout.

"We are all saddened and shocked to hear of Sergei's sudden passing," Predators general manager David Poile said in a statement. "He was a hardworking player who was well-liked by his teammates and coaches. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Zholtok family."

TSN.ca reported Wednesday night that Zholtok excused himself from a game and collapsed and died on the way to the locker room.

Zholtok left a game in January 2003 because of dizziness and fatigue, and was taken to the hospital for tests, causing concern for Wild coach Jacques Lemaire.

"I don't think he's OK," he said at the time.

Zholtok was also a late scratch two nights later against Buffalo when he skated during warmups but didn't feel well enough to play.

The forward then sat out early last season when the problems returned. Zholtok again left in the second period due to fainting spells. He returned to the hospital and was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and flulike symptoms.

After missing seven games, Zholtok was cleared by a doctor to return to the lineup.

"It's a very sad thing," former Wild teammate Filip Kuba told the Associated Press. "He was a very close friend of mine. He was a very good person. ... It's hard right now to talk about it."

Zholtok appeared in 588 NHL games from 1992-2004 with Boston, Ottawa, Montreal, Edmonton, Minnesota and Nashville. He joined the Predators on March 5 in a trade with Minnesota.

In 70 games last season with the Wild and Predators, Zholtok had 14 goals and 17 assists. For his career, Zholtok had 111 goals and 147 assists.