(DailyDig.com) – Chris Simon, a former NHL player, died when he took his own life in Wawa, Ontario, his hometown. He was 52 years old.
Simon’s family released a statement on March 19, confirming his death. They stated that they believe the chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) he was battling caused his death. They are grieving his death, along with their community. They asked for privacy as they won’t release any more details during their grieving, but said they are appreciative of the friends and fans who share their grief, according to the statement.
An autopsy is necessary to confirm the degenerative disease, CTE, of the brain. Doctors, however, are able to diagnose the condition based on the patient’s symptoms and related exams.
Simon’s career in the NHL spanned fifteen years, from 1993 through 2008. He played in 857 games during those fifteen years, in both regular and playoff games. Being known as a physical player, on all the teams he played for, he was involved in over one hundred fights on the ice and was penalized for a total of 1,824 minutes. In NHL history, that total ranked him at #67 for total penalty minutes, according to NHL statistics.
When he played for the Quebec Nordiques, he traveled with them to Denver, where they became the Colorado Avalanche. He helped them play in the 1996 Stanley Cup, their first win. He played for the Washington Capitals for most of his hockey career and also played for the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders. He retired in 2013 after five years with the KHL.
Simon’s time at the rink earned him respect from his teammates and fans. At times, his fervor for playing hockey went beyond normal sportsmanship. Eight suspensions resulted in him missing 65 games. Mike Commodore, one of his former teammates, posted a comment on social media about his intimidating abilities while playing.
Other teammates spoke of Simon as being tough but kind and caring. He also stood up for his teammates.
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