MUNICH – Former Slovenian national team defenceman Elvis Beslagic, in Germany also known as Elvis Reese, passed away on Wednesday in Munich. He was 39 years old.

Nothing has become known about the reason for his death in various German and Slovenian media reports.

The Jesenice native won six national championships in the ‘90s with Acroni Jesenice and Olimpija Ljubljana before spending over a decade with minor-league teams in Germany. Two years ago he switched to coaching and was under contract with fourth-tier team EHC Waldkraiburg until November before switching back to player one tier below with SE Freising.

He played 115 international games for the Slovenian men’s national team including eight IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships – two of them, 2002 and 2003, in the top division.

Bestlagic had a wife and a six-month old son. Together with his wife he operated a gym in Munich.

Last year Bestlagic was inducted into the Slovenian Hockey Hall of Fame.

MARTIN MERK