Former NHL enforcer Chris Simon has died. He was 52.

Simon died Monday night time time in his hometown of Wawa, Ontario, a spokesperson for the NHL Avid gamers’ Affiliation, who has been involved with the late forward’s agent, talked about Tuesday. Paul Theofanous, who represented Simon, did not reply to a message trying to find further particulars and Ontario Provincial Police declined to answer questions on Simon’s demise. A purpose behind demise was not immediately obtainable.

Union spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon talked about Simon’s children and family had been grieving over the sudden loss.

Simon carried out 857 regular-season and playoff video video games over 15 NHL seasons from 1993-2008. Over his occupation, he fought higher than 100 situations and racked up 1,824 penalty minutes to rank 67th in league historic previous.

“For an unlimited sturdy participant, he was moreover a very kind, caring explicit one that was on a regular basis respectful and grateful for advice,” former agent Larry Kelly talked about in a textual content material message to The Associated Press.

Simon acquired the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996 and was part of runs to the final word with Washington in 1998 and Calgary in 2004. He moreover frolicked with the Quebec Nordiques sooner than they grew to change into the Avalanche and carried out for Chicago, Calgary, Minnesota and the New York Rangers and Islanders, sooner than ending with 5 seasons throughout the KHL from 2008-13 and retiring.

“Chris was an unbelievable man, a beloved teammate and a vital part of our first championship season,” talked about Joe Sakic, Colorado’s president of hockey operations who was captain when the group acquired in 1996. “He was an excellent hockey participant who might score targets, was an unlimited presence throughout the dressing room and was the first explicit particular person to face up and defend his teammates. Off the ice, he was an unbelievable man and a caring father, son, brother and pal.”

Simon on the ice was a revered teammate and fan favorite, though he typically crossed the street and confronted supplemental self-discipline. The NHL suspended him eight situations totaling 65 video video games, along with a 25-game ban in March 2007 whereas he was with the Islanders for cross-checking the Rangers’ Ryan Hollweg throughout the face and 30 video video games for stomping on the leg of Pittsburgh’s Jarkko Ruutu that December.

Philadelphia drafted Simon throughout the second spherical of the 1990 draft and despatched him to the Nordiques as part of the 1992 commerce that acquired the Flyers prized prospect Eric Lindros.

Simon, who was of Ojibwa descent, was considered a job model for First Nations hockey players all through Canada.

“Chris Simon was most undoubtedly an intimidating man on the ice,” former teammate Mike Commodore posted on social media. “We spent a great deal of time collectively all through Flames ’04 run since we had been every residing throughout the lodge. … He couldn’t have been nicer to me. RIP Chris. You could be missed.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl