Chris SimonB次元官网网址檚 family says the late NHL enforcer died by suicide.

And it B次元官网网址渟trongly believesB次元官网网址� a progressive and fatal disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries is to blame.

Simon killed himself Monday night at age 52, his family confirmed in a statement provided by the playerB次元官网网址檚 former agent, Paul Theofanous.

Once one of hockeyB次元官网网址檚 most feared tough guys, the bruising forward from Wawa, Ont., compiled 1,824 penalty minutes B次元官网网址� including more than 100 fights B次元官网网址� in 782 games with seven NHL teams across 15 seasons.

SimonB次元官网网址檚 loved ones believe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) played a significant factor in his suicide.

B次元官网网址淭he family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand, that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death,B次元官网网址� the statement read. B次元官网网址淲e are grieving with the loss of our son, brother, father, partner, teammate and friend.B次元官网网址�

The family added it wonB次元官网网址檛 be releasing further details at this time.

B次元官网网址淭he entire Wawa community is sharing in our grief,B次元官网网址� the statement continued. B次元官网网址淲e appreciate everyone who shares in our tragic loss.B次元官网网址�

CTE is associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and continued headshots. Deaths by suicide and drug overdose are common among athletes in CTE cases. The NHL has repeatedly downplayed any links between hockey and CTE.

A study of former NHLers published last year showed enforcers lived significantly shorter lives than their peers.

Researchers at New YorkB次元官网网址檚 Columbia University came to that conclusion after analyzing data from more than 6,000 players from 1967 through the spring of 2022.

The study found enforcers died on average a decade younger than comparable peers drafted at the same rank, similar height and weight, and at the same position.

The researchers did not find more deaths among the NHL enforcers than in the control group.

B次元官网网址淗owever, being an enforcer was associated with dying approximately 10 years earlier and more frequently of suicide and drug overdose than matched controls,B次元官网网址� the study read.

Simon is the latest former NHL tough guy to die at a young age, joining the likes of Bob Probert, Derek Boogaard, Wade Belak and Rick Rypien. Probert and Boogaard were both confirmed to have CTE following their deaths.

Ex-enforcer Chris Nilan, who had more than 300 fights in the league, met Simon in the early 2000s.

B次元官网网址淭errible,B次元官网网址� Nilan said of the suicide. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a horrendous thing.B次元官网网址�

Nilan didnB次元官网网址檛 want to comment on potential links to CTE, but is part of a study at Boston University that has included a battery of cognitive tests and will see researchers examine his brain when he dies.

Nilan was convinced to take it by ProbertB次元官网网址檚 wife, Dani, in hopes of helping future generations of players.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 do it because I want to know if I have CTE,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not something I think about every day or at all.B次元官网网址�

The 2023 study found striking differences in causes of death between the enforcers and their fellow players.

Two neurodegenerative disorder deaths, two drug overdoses, three suicides and four vehicular crashes were attributed to the 331 players identified as enforcers/fighters, compared to just one car crash death among the age-matched control group.

Commenting on Wednesday at this weekB次元官网网址檚 NHL general managers meetings in Florida, commissioner Gary Bettman called SimonB次元官网网址檚 death B次元官网网址渢ragic,B次元官网网址� but refrained from directly addressing the familyB次元官网网址檚 charge itB次元官网网址檚 linked to CTE.

B次元官网网址淲e extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends,B次元官网网址� Bettman told reporters in Manalapan, Fla. B次元官网网址淥n all these matters we wait to see what the medical experts tell us.

B次元官网网址淗aving said that, I think itB次元官网网址檚 well-documented all the progress that weB次元官网网址檝e made over the last couple of decades to make the game as safe as possible.B次元官网网址�

Once a staple in the NHL, fighting has seen a steep decline as the sport has become faster and more skilled B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 certainly not gone, with fisticuffs coming roughly every four or five games.

The league has seen some big tilts this season, most notably involving hulking six-foot-seven New York Rangers rookie Matt Rempe, who dropped the gloves four times in his first seven contests.

The NHL suspended Simon eight times during his career for a combined 65 games. He was hit with a 25-game ban with the Islanders for a March 2007 cross-check to the face of Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg.

Simon was then forced to sit 30 games for stomping on the leg of Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jarkko Ruutu that December.

Selected with the 25th pick at the 1990 NHL draft, Simon won the Stanley Cup with Colorado Avalanche in 1996 before making the final with the Washington Capitals in 1998 and Calgary Flames in 2004.

B次元官网网址淔or all of us who played the game, and certainly for guys who played the game like Chris did, itB次元官网网址檚 sad,B次元官网网址� Nilan said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really sad.B次元官网网址�

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