MIAMI (AP) — Former Belarusian hockey participant Konstantin Koltsov, who was teaching within the KHL, has died in Florida, police stated Tuesday. He was 42.
Miami-Dade Police detective Argemis Colome confirmed Koltsov’s dying in an announcement despatched to The Related Press. Police stated the dying was an obvious suicide and no foul play was suspected.
Koltsov served as an assistant coach for Salavat Yulaev Ufa the previous two seasons. He additionally was an assistant on workers for the Belarusian males’s nationwide crew.
Nationwide crew coach Dmitry Baskov referred to as Koltsov’s dying “an irreparable loss.”
“Konstantin was one of many undisputable leaders of our crew, a proficient progressive coach, a vivid participant,” Baskov stated in an announcement. “He was an instance of durability, laborious work, dedication and an idol for a lot of Belarusian boys and his colleagues. It’s laborious and unfair when such individuals depart so early.”
Koltsov performed in 144 NHL video games for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2003-06 after being chosen within the first spherical of the 1999 draft, placing up 12 targets and 26 assists. The Penguins in an announcement prolonged condolences to Koltsov’s household and buddies.
Koltsov performed most of his profession within the Russian Superleague, which morphed into the KHL, ending with Dynamo Minsk in 2015-16 and going into teaching. Salavat Yulaev Ufa expressed sorrow for the dying of Koltsov, who gained a Gagarin Cup championship with the membership as a participant in 2010-11.
“He was a robust and cheerful individual, he was liked and revered by gamers, colleagues, and followers,” the crew stated in an announcement. “(Koltsov) eternally wrote himself into the historical past of our membership.”
Koltsov had been courting second-ranked ladies’s tennis participant Aryna Sabalenka, who was scheduled to play within the Miami Open match that started Tuesday. A spokesperson for the Miami Open stated late Tuesday afternoon that Sabalenka had not withdrawn from the occasion.
As one of many 32 seeded gamers within the ladies’s bracket, Sabalenka acquired a first-round bye. She is scheduled to make her preliminary look within the 2024 version of the match within the second spherical Thursday, when she would face Paula Badosa, who beat two-time main champion Simona Halep on Tuesday.
Messages despatched to Sabalenka’s publicist weren’t instantly returned.
Sabalenka is a 25-year-old additionally from Belarus who gained the Australian Open in January for her second consecutive title at Melbourne Park. She was featured throughout the Netflix docuseries “Break Level,” talking emotionally in regards to the dying of her father when he was in his early 40s.
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This story consists of dialogue of suicide. For those who or somebody you understand wants assist, please name the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
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AP sports activities: https://apnews.com/sports activities