The IIHF has announced the death of former Soviet goalkeeper Alexei Marin ©IIHF

Former Soviet national team goaltender Alexei Marin has died at the age of 51, the International Ice Hockey Federation has announced.

Marin made a total of 19 appearances for the Soviet side, including the 1991 World Championships in Finland, where he helped the team secure the bronze medal.

He also competed at the Canada Cup, staged on five occasions between 1976 and 1991, and won a gold medal at the 1982 IIHF World Under-18 Championships.

Following the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, Marin went on to have an established career in domestic Russian ice hockey, where he had stints with Lada Togliatti, Krylia Sovietov Moscow, SKA St. Petersburg and Kristall Elektrostal.

During his spell with Lada Togliatti, he helped the club win the Russian championship to become the first champion in Soviet/Russian history from another city than the capital Moscow.

The 1991 World Championships, where Alexei Marin won bronze as part of the Soviet side, were held in Finland ©Flickr
The 1991 World Championships, where Alexei Marin won bronze as part of the Soviet side, were held in Finland ©Flickr

After his career in Russia, he then opted to move abroad, signing for Graz in Austria and Szekesfehervar in Hungary, where he retired at the age of 35.

Marin, originally from the CSKA Moscow hockey school, made his debut in the sport for SKA Sverdlovsk before moving on to play for Salavat Yulayev Ufa.

Spartak Moscow was his next destination, where he spent six years of his career from 1987 to 1993.

The IIHF has not provided any further details about the circumstances surrounding Marin's death.