DIED SUDDENLY: London Knights, OHL teams postpone games after death of forward Abakar Kazbekov

 

London Knights centre Abakar Kazbekov has died, the team and Ontario Hockey League announced via Twitter on Saturday.

No other details were provided, but the 18-year-old played in Friday's 5-2 home victory over the Owen Sound Attack. CTV News reported that the London Police Service (LPS) Major Crime Section is investigating.

"Today I join the entire OHL community in mourning the devastating loss of London Knights player Abakar Kazbekov," OHL commissioner David Branch said in a statement. "Our deepest condolences are with his family and friends in Russia and his teammates, billets and friends here in Canada."

The Moscow native had been a member of the Knights since the start of last season.

Kazbekov registered one assist in 12 appearances with London this season.

The Knights and OHL said Saturday's game against the Flint Firebirds has been postponed.

The OHL also announced that Saturday's game between the Erie Otters and host Saginaw Spirit was postponed, as well as the Peterborough-Kingston and Sudbury-Niagara games, "out of sensitivity to the several individuals involved in the scheduled game who were close to" Kazbekov.

Kazbekov was the first-overall pick from the 2021 OHL U18 priority selection.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/juniors/article/london-knights-postpone-game-after-death-of-forward-abakar-kazbekov/