Former NHL player Konstantin Koltsov has died at the age of 42 in Florida from an “apparent suicide.”
The Miami-Dade Police Department issued a statement Tuesday, saying Koltsov was found dead at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami Beach.
Police were called to the hotel early Monday morning for a report of a man jumping from a balcony, according to ESPN.
Authorities confirmed “no foul play is suspected.”
Koltsov, a Belarusian forward, played three seasons in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins between 2002 and 2006. He also represented Belarus at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010, and played for almost two decades in the Russian Super League and Kontinental Hockey League.
In 2008, he won a championship with Russian team Salavat Yulaev. He retired in 2016 and went on to become their coach.
“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,” the team, based in the city of Ufa, said in the statement. “He was a strong and cheerful person, he was loved and respected by players, colleagues, and fans. Konstantin Evgenievich forever wrote himself into the history of our club.”
Since June 2021, Koltsov had been in a relationship with Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, the second-ranked women’s singles player and reigning Australian Open champ. She frequently posted pictures of the two of them on social media. She is scheduled to play Friday at the Miami Open.
The Tennis Channel confirmed Sabalenka will still play in the tournament, but will not be doing press.
