TORONTO — Former Avalanche defenseman Wade Belak hanged himself, according to a person familiar with the case.
Belak, an enforcer who had played with five NHL teams before retiring in March, was found dead Wednesday in Toronto. He was 35.
The person familiar with Belak’s death said he hanged himself at a downtown luxury hotel and condo building.
“At this point it’s non-suspicious,” Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella said Thursday. “We will not provide any further information on a non-suspicious case.”
Belak, who played in 35 games for the Avs in the late 1990s and fought 136 times during his 14-year NHL career according to , is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May.
The body of 27-year-old Rick Rypien of the Winnipeg Jets was discovered last month at his home in Alberta after a police official said a call was answered for a “sudden and non-suspicious” death. Former New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died in May at 28 due to an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Don Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players Association, issued a joint statement Thursday saying that while each case is unique, the “tragic events cannot be ignored.”
“Our organizations are committed to a thorough evaluation of our existing assistance programs and practices and will make immediate modifications and improvements to the extent they are deemed warranted,” the statement said. “We want individuals to feel comfortable seeking help when they need help.”
Belak’s wife, Jennifer, released a statement, saying her husband “was a big man with an even bigger heart.”
“This loss leaves a huge hole in our lives and, as we move forward, we ask that everyone remember Wade’s infectious sense of humor, his caring spirit and the joy he brought to his friends, family and fans.”
