Former Canuck winger Rick Rypien, found dead Monday
By Nelson Daily Staff
Former Vancouver Canuck forward Rick Rypien, 27, was found dead Monday in his Southern Alberta home town.
Alberta RCMP confirm police attended a home in Coleman Monday afternoon where a man was found deceased.
Rypien’s death is not considered suspicious and has been deemed a sudden death.
The 5’9”, 190-pound winger had recently signed on with the Winnipeg Jets.
Rypien had a reputation as a tenacious fighting foward, who often beat down larger opponents.
He quickly became a fan favourite with the Canucks and while playing in the minors in Winnipeg for the Manitoba Moose.
Last season as a Canuck he was suspended for lashing out at an opposing fan during a game in Minnesota against the Wild.
He then took a leave of absence for personal reasons, playing only nine games for Vancouver during the team’s Stanley Cup run season.
Rypien, who spent six seasons with the Canucks, did not have drug problems but is believed to have suffered from depression.
In 119 career NHL games, he had nine goals and seven assists and racked up 226 penalty minutes.
He played his junior hockey with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League and signed as a free agent with the Canucks franchise.
Rypien is the second professional hockey player to die this season.
In May, New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment.
The 28-year-old had just completed his first season with the Rangers after spending his first five years in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota Wild.
