A memorial fund has been established to aid the family of Sergei Zholtok, the Rīga-born professional hockey player who died unexpectedly Nov. 3 while playing in Minsk, Belarus

The 31-year-old Zholtok, whose last appearance in the National Hockey League was with the Nashville Predators, was diagnosed with a heart ailment last year. He collapsed shortly after removing himself from a game between Rīga 2000 and the Dinamo team of Belarus. Zholtok was playing for the Latvian team while NHL labor negotiations continue, which had prevented him from pursuing a new contract as a free agent. The Sergei Zholtok Memorial Fund, set up through The Kids First Fund of Milwaukee, Wis., will benefit the education of Zholtok’s sons, Edgar and Nikita, as well as other family needs, said Jay Sorensen, president of Kids First. Zholtok was an honorary director of the charity, which aids abused children in Latvia. The fund will be open through Dec. 31 and donations are not tax deductible, Sorensen said. Checks must be made out to “KFF Sergei Zholtok Memorial Fund” and mailed to KFF Sergei Zholtok Memorial Fund, c/o Kids First Fund, 1916 E. Kensington Blvd., Shorewood, WI 53211, USA. Wire transfers should be sent to KFF Sergei Zholtok Memorial Fund, c/o Wells Fargo Bank, account no. 631-503-0830, bank routing code 075-911-988. Donations may also be made at any Wells Fargo branch.