SOCHI, Russia (26 June 2008) — Renowned former Soviet ice hockey great Viktor Kuzkin died while scuba diving in the Black Sea. Few details were available as of Friday about the cause of the scuba diving accident, however, local officials told CDNN the hockey legend and avid diver may have died of heart failure. Hall of Famer Kuzkin won Olympic gold medals in 1964, 1968 and 1972, and eight world championships while playing with Soviet Union teams. Born in Moscow, Kuzkin played as a defenseman for CSKA Moscow, and scored 70 goals in 530 games helping the Soviet league team to win 12 national championships. In 1963, Kuzkin played for the Soviet team that won gold at the IIHF World Championship. Over the next decade, Kuzkin played in eight more IIHF world championships, winning seven more gold medals and one silver. After he retired as a player, Kuzkin was an assistant coach for CSKA and in Japan. He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2005. | 
