MOSCOW – Mikhail Buturlin, one of the top referees from Russia, passed away in hospital on Tuesday at the age of 39.

According to media reports Buturlin felt bad when training on a stationary bike on Monday, was taken to hospital and lapsed into a coma. On Tuesday he died in hospital.

Buturlin started his career as a player with CSKA Moscow and played several years in the top-two Russian leagues and in Belarus. He didn’t play for national teams but participated in the IIHF Continental Cup with Lada Togliatti (2006) and Yunost Minsk (2007) when he ended his career as a player and turned to officiating.

He called 324 KHL games since starting officiating in Russia’s top league in 2010. Most recently he was assigned for two games in the Gagarin Cup final and was considered among the upcoming group of referees in international ice hockey. He officiated international games at the 2017 IIHF Continental Cup Final in Italy, the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship Division II Group B in Estonia and the 2011 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division III in South Africa.