On Saturday the 17th of December, London Knights player and Moscow, Russia native Abakar Kazbekov passed away at the age of 18. 

Kazbekov has been a member of the London Knights family since the 2021-2022 season after being selected #1 in the OHL U18 Priority Selection. 

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

The Oakville Blades organization would like to join the OHL in sending their deepest condolences to Kazbekov’s family and friends. The players will be wearing helmet stickers in tribute to Abakar.

A GoFundMe to help support the cost for funeral arrangements for Abakar has been created on behalf of the Kazbekov family:

Fundraiser for Gadzhi Kazbekov by Alina Yakus : Funeral Costs for Abakar Kazbekov (gofundme.com)

You can read about Abakar’s story and time in Canada here:

'Just a good kid': Abakar Kazbekov, 2004-2022 | London Free Press (lfpress.com)