Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov will fly to Russia during the team’s bye next week to bring his twin sons back to Montreal following the death of their mother.

Natalia Streckova, Markov’s ex-girlfriend, lost her battle with ovarian cancer just before Christmas after fighting the disease for years, the Canadiens blueliner revealed to the Journal de Montreal on Thursday.

“She fought this disease for several years. And as you know, few survive,” Markov told the Journal’s Jonathan Bernier.

Markov said he learned Streckova’s condition worsened near the end of last season and spent some time with her before the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

“I saw her for the last time just before the start of the season. We were in Moscow. Although she knew that her physical condition deteriorated, she continued to see her situation in an optimistic eye and continued to believe she would beat this disease,” Markov said.

The veteran defenceman’s five-year-old twin sons, Andrei and Mark, were born in Montreal but moved to Moscow when Markov and Streckova separated three years ago. Markov said he’s excited to see his boys again and reintroduce them to their Canadian roots.

“They are still young children. They probably do not realize how sad it is. They only want to smile and have fun. This is what I will try to do with them.”