Salavat Yulaev Ufa to Retire Rodion Amirov's Jersey Number Following Passing

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Maple Leafs
By Nick Barden,David Alter | Last updated 8/17/23

Salavat Yulaev is remembering Rodion Amirov in a very special way following his passing.

Amirov's agent, Dan Milstein, confirmed to The Hockey News that the Ufa club will retire the 21-year-old's number 27 this season.

This news comes as the hockey world continues to mourn the loss of the promising young man. A number of people throughout the NHL and KHL expressed their condolences following Amirov's death.

Most recently, former Ufa teammate and Toronto native, Josh Ho-Sang, remembered the 21-year-old in an Instagram story.

"He smiled in the face of danger, he smiled when the odds were stacked against him, he smiled even when he had every reason not to," Ho-Sang said.

"What I choose to remember about Rodi is that he never let anything define him, he is a hero, a son, a hockey player but most of all he is someone who gave the world hope."

It's being reported that Salavat's captain, Grigori Panin, was the one who came up with the idea of retiring Amirov's number.

Amirov, selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round (15th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, died earlier this week following a two-year battle with a brain tumor. He was just 21.

The KHL club continues to mourn his passing with tributes.

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This article first appeared on FanNation Inside The Maple Leafs and was syndicated with permission.

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