Former NHL winger Chris Simon dies at 52 - ESPN

Former NHL winger Chris Simon has died at 52. His family confirmed he died by suicide in a statement released Tuesday night.

«The family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand, that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death,» the statement, provided by Simon's former agent, Paul Theofanous, on behalf of Simon's family, read.

«We are grieving with the loss of our son, brother, father, partner, teammate and friend. The entire Wawa community is sharing in our grief. We will not be releasing any further details at this time and ask for privacy during this very difficult time. We appreciate everyone who shares in our tragic loss.»

Simon was known for his physicality in a career that saw him play for seven franchises. A member of the Quebec Nordiques, he was part of the team that relocated to Denver and helped the Avalanche win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history during the 1995-96 season.

«Chris was a great guy, a beloved teammate and important part of our first championship season,» Avalanche president Joe Sakic said in a statement. «He was a really good hockey player who could score goals, was a big presence in the dressing room and was the first person to stand up and defend his teammates. Off the ice he was an unbelievable guy and a caring father, son, brother, and friend. He will be sorely missed.»

The Islanders posted on social media that Simon «epitomized what it means to be an Islander, someone who wore his heart on his sleeve both on the ice and in the community.»

From the NHL Alumni Association's social media: «Chris was never afraid to stand up for his teammates, and played a key role in the dressing room. He was a beloved friend, father, brother, and son.»

The NHL