Konstantin Koltsov, former NHL player and boyfriend of tennis star Aryna Sabalenka, dead at 42

Konstantin Koltsov, a Belarusian hockey player who spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL, has died, according to his Russian team on Tuesday. He was 42.

Koltsov played 144 games for the Penguins from 2002 to 2006. He was a coach for Salvat Yulaev of the Kontinental Hockey League. The team was based in the city of Ufa, which is located about 832 miles west of Moscow.

“It is with deep sorrow that we inform you that the coach of Salavat Yulaev, Konstantin Koltsov, has passed away,” the team said. “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.

“May he rest in peace.”

The Penguins also released a statement.

“The Penguins extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Penguins forward, Konstantin Koltsov,” the team said.

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“The native of Belarus was the Penguins’ first-round draft choice in 1999 and was with the team from 2003-206, playing 144 NHL games. He was a teammate of both Sidney Crosby and Mario Lemieux during the 2005-06 season.”

The cause of death was not made known.

Koltsov was also dating tennis star Aryna Sabalenka. The two went public with their relationship in 2021. She was at the Indian Wells Open in California before setting her sights on the Miami Open in Florida.

She has yet to comment on Koltsov’s death.

Koltsov played hockey professionally from 1997 to 2016. He spent time in the Russian Super League, the Belarusian Extraleague, the Eastern European Hockey League and played internationally with Belarus. He competed on the Belarusian national team in the Olympics and World Championships. 

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