BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian ice hockey player 26-year-old Darcy Robinson died after passing out during a top-flight match in the northern Italian town of Asiago on Thursday.

    The Canadian-born player collapsed in the third minute of his side Asiago's home game against Renon, the Italian Ice Sports Federation said on its Web site.

    Robinson was treated immediately but died in hospital.

    The match and the entire programme of Italian top-flight ice hockey games were postponed after Robinson's death.

    He was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1999 draft but never played for the National Hockey League team. Robinson played for minor league teams in North America before joining Asiago in 2005.

    (Agencies)