“Forever inscribed himself in the history of Salavat Yulaev”
The Salavat Yulaev coaching staff announced the death of Konstantin Koltsov at age 42. The club’s press service confirmed the news with a tone of deep sorrow, noting that Koltsov was a strong, cheerful presence who earned the love and respect of players, colleagues, and fans. He left a lasting mark on the club, having secured the Russian Championship and the Gagarin Cup while part of Salavat Yulaev’s coaching staff. — Source: Belta
Played with Lemieux and Crosby, won the Gagarin Cup
Koltsov was born in Minsk and joined the Yunost Minsk hockey school at seven, advancing to the youth and eventually the senior ranks. His professional debut in Russia came with Severstal, with a Russian Championship appearance in 1998 and a rapid establishment as a regular in the lineup a year later. He also represented Belarus at three World Championships across youth, junior, and adult levels. — Source: Belta
In 1999 he was selected 18th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. His journey abroad spanned several years, including stints with Novokuznetsk Metallurg, Ak Bars, and Moscow Spartak before joining the Penguins. He scored his first goal for Pittsburgh on the road in Chicago. Across his NHL career, Koltsov played 144 games and accumulated 38 points (12 goals, 26 assists). While with Pittsburgh, he shared the ice with legends Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby. — Source: Belta
Belarusian national representation continued with his participation in the 2002 Olympic Games, a distinction that earned him the title of Honored Master of Sports of the Republic of Belarus. — Source: Belta
Koltsov returned to Russia in 2006 to join Salavat Yulaev, where he quickly helped the team become Russian champions and later claimed the Gagarin Cup. His career later included time with Atlant Mytishchi and Dinamo Minsk before retirement. He stayed on with Dinamo as an assistant head coach while continuing to contribute to hockey off the ice. — Source: Belta
Coaching duties persisted with Spartak in 2021. A year later he joined Viktor Kozlov’s staff at Salavat Yulaev, remaining with the club until his passing. In the hours preceding the news, reports indicated he would depart the organization. — Source: Belta
Cause of death not disclosed
There was no official disclosure about the cause of death for the 42-year-old athlete. Reports from Smartpress suggested a ruptured blood clot, but the club publicly denied this version. The club stated that it had not confirmed any cause to their knowledge and did not engage with any external claims at that time. — Source: Belta
News outlets reported that Koltsov died in Miami while supporting his partner, a prominent tennis player, during a tournament in the city. The player had been scheduled to compete, but events unfolded as the tragedy occurred, affecting participation and post-event records. — Source: Belta
“Still living and living”
The hockey world offered condolences as colleagues and admirers reflected on Koltsov’s career and potential as a coach. Olympic and world champion Valery Kamensky recalled Koltsov as a promising coach and a dedicated person whose love for hockey remained evident as he moved into coaching roles. Kamensky spoke of his respect for Koltsov and his ongoing potential. — Source: Belta
Roman Rotenberg, head coach of SKA St. Petersburg, expressed shock and remembered a recent meeting at the Channel One Cup where Koltsov led the Belarusian national team. Rotenberg highlighted Koltsov’s leadership and the compelling style of play among the Belarusians under his guidance. — Source: Belta
Vladimir Krikunov, a former head coach for the Russian and Belarusian national teams, noted that Koltsov would have taken a head coaching role with Dinamo Minsk and recalled seeing him recently. He described Koltsov as a reliable, hardworking person whose career touched many levels of the sport. — Source: Belta
Krikinov shared that the absence would be deeply felt and that the hockey community would remember Koltsov as a committed figure who lived fully in his professional life. The broader hockey world, including Dinamo Minsk, Salavat Yulaev, Ak Bars, and the Belarusian federation, extended condolences, with fans placing flowers at the Ufa Arena entrance. — Source: Belta
“Our hockey brother”
Vyacheslav Fetisov, a two-time Olympic champion and seven-time world champion, paid tribute to Koltsov, referring to him as a hockey brother and praising his contribution to the sport. Fetisov expressed sympathy to Koltsov’s family and emphasized hockey’s shared bonds and the pain of losing a young coach who had shown great promise. — Source: Belta
In his comments, Fetisov urged respect for reliability and perseverance in Koltsov’s memory, noting the importance of honoring a life spent advancing the game. He did not speculate on future possibilities but reaffirmed the need to remember Koltsov’s impact. The hockey world publicly mourned his loss, and several organizations issued condolences as fans visited the central entrance of the Ufa Arena to lay flowers. — Source: Belta