THE Mafia-style execution of a top Russian sports star has left the North-East's leading ice hockey team facing a player crisis.

Sergei Zemchenok, netminder with Russian Hockey League team Metallurg Magnitogorsk, was shot dead on Monday.

His death has caused a transfer hold-up for the Newcastle Jesters, who were due to sign Canadian Dave Craievich yesterday from Italian champions Asiago Hockey.

The Italians had lined up another of Metallurg's defencemen as a replacement, but now the Russian is refusing to leave because he fears he may be killed by the same people who shot his team mate.

As a result, Asiago are refusing to release Craievich to join the Jesters, who play two games on consecutive nights away to the Belfast Giants tonight and tomorrow. Craievich has been awarded a work permit and was due to fly into Tyneside last night in time to play in the games at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast.

But, the club's general manager Mike O'Connor said: "We got a call from Italy, stating that they weren't going to release him.

"The Russian defenceman who's going to replace him has decided not to come because he is frightened to leave Russia."

The already struggling Jesters have been left with four defencemen, rather than the preferred six, because another player, Rob Wilson, has returned to Canada for the third time this season to be with his sick father.

The club may even be forced to pull assistant coach Glenn Mulvenna out of retirement to make up the numbers while the player crisis continues