Budding hockey star Abakar Kazbekov dead at 18

LONDON, Ontario — London Knights center Abakar Kazbekov has died, the team and the Ontario Hockey League announced Saturday. He was 18.

No other details were provided in the joint statement. Kazbekov, who was from Russia, played in a 5-2 home victory over the Owen Sound Attack on Friday.

The London Police Service is investigating after finding Kazbekov’s body on a sidewalk on Saturday morning, according to CTV News London.

Pucks are gathered from the net as the Vegas Golden Knights warm up before a game against the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Arena on November 25, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Moscow native Abakar Kazbekov played as a center for the London Knights.
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

The Moscow native had been a member of the Knights since the start of last season. He previously played in the Russian under-16 and under-18 leagues.

Kazbekov registered one assist in 12 appearances with London this season. He scored one goal in nine games last season.

The Knights and OHL said London’s game scheduled for Saturday night against the Flint Firebirds has been postponed.

The league also announced the postponement of two other games — the Erie Otters versus Saginaw Spirit and Kingston Frontenacs against the Peterborough Petes — out of sensitivity to individuals involved in the games who were close to Kazbekov.

source: nypost.com