According to reports, Buturlin fell ill while exercising on a stationary bike on Monday (June 27) and was taken to hospital.

He then lapsed into a coma before dying a day later.

Buturlin started his playing career with CSKA Moscow and competed for several years in the top-two Russian leagues and also in Belarus.

He did not represent his national team, but participated in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Continental Cup with Lada Togliatti in 2006 and Yunost Minsk in 2007, where he ended his career as a player and turned to officiating. 

During his career as an official, Buturlin oversaw 324 Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) games after beginning in Russia’s top league in 2010.

Most recently he was assigned two games in the Gagarin Cup final and was considered one of the brightest referees in international ice hockey.

He officiated international games at the 2017 IIHF Continental Cup Final in Italy, the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey Under-18 World Championship Division II Group B in Estonia and the 2011 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division III in South Africa.

The Russian Ice Hockey Federation said in a statement on its website that it would like to "extend its deepest condolences to Mikhail's family and friends".