series of tragic deaths, both on and off the ice, has left the world or professional hockey in mourning.
On March 18, 2024, former NHL players Konstantin Koltsov and Chris Simon were announced dead in separate instances, the latest in a string of recent passings to rock the sport.
Koltsov, who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, was pronounced dead at the age of 42 after jumping from a hotel balcony in Miami.
Simon, who played for seven different NHL franchises, died by suicide at the age of 52. After his death, Simon’s family raised concerns about his years of battling CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) as a result of his hockey career.
For more information about their deaths and others, keep reading:
Konstantin Koltsov
Belarusian hockey player Koltsov died in March 2024 at the age of 42.
“According to investigators on Monday, March 18, 2024, at approximately 12:39 a.m., Bal Harbour Police and Fire Rescue were dispatched to the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, 9703 Collins Avenue, in reference to a male that jumped from a balcony,” the Miami-Dade Police Department said in a statement to Us Weekly. No foul play was suspected.
Koltsov was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1999 and played a total of 144 games for the franchise from 2003-2006.
In addition, Koltsov formerly dated tennis player Aryna Sabalenka, who remembered her former partner after his death.
“Konstantin’s death is an unthinkable tragedy, and while we were no longer together, my heart is broken,” Sabalenka wrote via her Instagram Story after his death. “Please respect my privacy and his family’s privacy during this difficult time.”
Chris Simon
The NHL journeyman and Stanley Cup champion died on March 18, 2024, at the age of 52. In a statement, Simon’s family indicated he had died by suicide. “The family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death,” the statement read.
CTE is a progressive degenerative disease that affects individuals with repeated concussions and multiple traumatic brain injuries.
After being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1990, Simon was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in the deal that sent Eric Lindros to Philadelphia. Simon followed the Nordiques to Denver when they became the Colorado Avalanche, winning a Stanley Cup with the franchise during the 1995-1996 season. Throughout his 16-year NHL career, Simon also played for the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders and Minnesota Wild.