friends and family are mourning the loss of Constantine Koff the 42-year-old former professional ice hockey player from bellarus has died according to Continental Hockey League team salvat ULEV Constantine was dating tennis Superstar Arena Sabal Linka Constantine's KHL team said in a translated statement on March 18th quote he was a strong and cheerful person he was loved and respected by players colleagues and fans the statement continues Constantine forever wrote himself into the history of our club he won the Russian championship and the gagaran cup as part of salvat ULEV and did a great job on the team's coaching staff no cause of death has been shared at this time during his professional career Constantine represented his country at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2010 he also spent three seasons on the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins between 2003 and 2006 the Pennsylvania team shared a statement on Constantine's passing noting he was their first round draft choice in 1999 who went on to play a total of 144 NHL games the team shares the Penguins extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of former Penguins forward Constantine cols off off the ice the assistant hockey coach was in a relationship with tennis star and fellow Barian Arena Sabal Linka who is currently ranked number two in the women's tennis Association the pair debuted their romance in 2021 with Arena sharing a photo of Constantine kissing her cheek at the time the 25-year-old captioned her photo alongside the laughing emoji it's good to have someone who can understand my madness at least you won't get bored with me right Arena who is scheduled to play her first game in the Miami open on March 22nd has not addressed Constantine's passing at this time Arena posted a moving tribute to her boyfriend for his birthday last April writing happy birthday my love you are my dearest person my best friend and my strongest support peace be with you strength patience and health I hope we will have everything we planned I love [Music] you