Just one week after his agent, Dan Milstein, announced his passing, 21-year-old Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov was laid to rest today, following a well-attended funeral service at his team's home rink, Ufa-Arena.
Amirov fought courageously for a year-and-a-half, ultimately succumbing to brain cancer. Today, thousands of fans, as well as Amirov's own Salavat Yulayev teammates, were in attendance to celebrate his life and bid their final farewell to a promising young player and special young man who was taken from this Earth far too soon. Each of Amirov's teammates also placed a rose on the casket carrying their fallen comrade.
Amirov's teammates accompanied the pallbearers carrying his casket out of the arena one final time while a chorus of youth players stood on either side of them, delivering stick taps for Amirov. Touching and heartbreaking at the same time.
What happened to Amirov was tragic and is, unfortunately, all too common with this deadly disease. Amirov touched a lot of hearts in his young life, as is evidenced by the scores of people who attended his funeral service and who mourn his loss all around the world.
