The Games.org

Alexander Perezhogin is a Kazakh-born Russian ice hockey player with the Montreal Canadiens, he is perhaps best known for a brutal attack on another player when playing in the AHL.

Perezhogin was born in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Soviet Union, in what is today Kazakhstan, on August 10, 1983. He was drafted by Montreal in the first round of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft 25th overall. In the 2003 season Perezhogin came to North America to play with the Hamilton Bulldogs, Montreal's AHL affiliate.

During the Calder Cup playoffs against the Cleveland Barons, Perezhogin got into a scuffle in front of the Cleveland net with defenceman Garrett Stafford. Stafford was knocked to his knees, and swung at Perezhogin with his stick, but at most made a glancing blow against his helmet. In response Perezhogin took a two handed swing at Stafford's head with his stick. The blow knocked Stafford unconscious, and he began convulsing on the ice. It also inflicted severe lacerations on his face, and blood poured out onto the ice.

Stafford was rushed to Hamilton General Hospital, where he received twenty stitches for the lacerations and treatment for a concussion. Stafford was released from hospital after only a day, and has made a full recovery. Perezhogin was suspended for the rest of the playoffs, and in an unprecedented move was suspended for the entire next season. He went to Russia and played that year with Omsk. Perezhogin was also charged by Hamilton police, and he was given one year probation and ordered to donate $5,000 to charity, and to cover Stafford's medical bills.