Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov died on Monday after being diagnosed with a brain tumor two years ago, his agent Dan Milstein announced.
Amirov, the team’s first-round pick in 2020, was just 21.
The Leafs announced that Amirov had been diagnosed with a brain tumor in February 2022.
The tumor was discovered when he was being treated for an unrelated injury.
“From the moment he received the news, he refused to speak in the negative, determined to enjoy every day, facing it with the same positive attitude he showed during his hockey career,” Milstein wrote in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“We will always remember his courage, his desire, his will, his smile, all of the great things about him. We’d like to thank his doctors, who took great care of him.”
Milstein added appreciation for the support from the Maple Leafs and Amirov’s KHL club, Salavat Yulayev Ufa.
The agent also thanked the fans who had sent messages of encouragement to the Russian hockey player.
“They meant so much to the Amirov family,” Milstein said.
Amirov had been playing in the KHL in 2021 before an injury sidelined him after just 10 games.
He had been in Toronto to train for the 2022-23 season before returning back to Russia in November of last year, according to Yahoo Sports.
“The entire Maple Leafs organization is devastated by this tragic loss,” Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said in a statement.
“Over the duration of his courageous battle, Rodion’s positivity inspired everyone around him, and he made lasting impressions with our team and fans in his brief visits to Toronto. It’s incredibly sad to see a young man with so much promise taken from us so soon.
“We offer our deepest condolences to Rodion’s family and friends as we mourn this loss together.”
During his time in Toronto, he underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and was greeted with a standing ovation when he appeared at an Oct. 13 Maple Leafs game against the Washington Capitals.
In a tweet, Maple Leafs captain John Tavares expressed his sadness Monday over Amirov’s passing.
“It’s incredibly hard to comprehend the loss of Rodion,” Tavares said. “His smile and joy for life & hockey was infectious. My teammates & I are grateful for our time spent with him & forever inspired by his courageous fight. Condolences to his loved ones. We’ll miss him dearly.”
In the KHL, a moment of silence was held during a preseason game Monday between Ak Bars and Traktor.
In a statement on Twitter, the KHL said that it was “deeply saddened by the passing of Ufa’s player Rodion Amirov. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
