Breaking: former NHL goalie Ray Emery tragically drowns at 35
An outing on the water in Ontario has turned tragic.
Former NHL goalie Ray Emery has died at the age of 35.
Friends and first responders have identified victim in early morning drowning at the Hamilton Harbour as former @NHL goalie Ray Emery. Ray played the @ottawasenators, @NHLBlackhawks, @AnaheimDucks and the @NHLFlyers. He was swimming with several friends & never surfaced #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/QpD2tNwDzs
— Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) July 15, 2018
The Hamilton Spector broke the news a man in his 30s had drowned at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.
Authorities confirmed the man was Emery, who played with four teams — including two stints with Philadephia — over his 11-year NHL career.
Police were notified that Emery had failed to return from an early morning swim, which began when he was part of a group that visited a friend’s boat.
The group decided to jump in the water early Sunday morning.
Late Sunday afternoon, the Hamilton police issued a statement that its divers recovered Emery’s body near the Leander Boat Club.
Emery was a colorful character on the ice, a backup goalie who wasn’t afraid to mix it up.
Ray Emery forever.
R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/wwfpjjkCr0
— etienne (@etiiiennne) July 15, 2018
The highlight of his career was winning the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2013.
New Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas posted a statement, saying he was “fortunate to be around Ray at the very start of his promising career in Sault Ste. Marie, where we drafted him in 1999, and then again at the end of his career, when he played for us in 2016-17 with the Toronto Marlies.”
“Ray’s smile and intelligence made him a magnetic personality,” Dubas said.
Emery played in a charity hockey game Saturday, and a fan posted a photo of Emery at a post-game autograph session.
Wow. This is devastating. We met Ray last night after he played in @RinaldoZac ‘s charity hockey game. He signed a hockey card for my boys and was a gentleman. RIP. Wow. pic.twitter.com/WYpJFyeXNv
— Bill Yates ⚾ (@BillYates12) July 15, 2018
As word of Emery’s passing made its way through social media, his former teammates voiced their sorrow.
So sad to hear the tragic news about Ray Emery- was a great teammate and person #rip
— James van Riemsdyk (@JVReemer21) July 15, 2018
Horrible to hear about Ray Emery. He was an incredible teammate. #Razor
— William Nylander (@wmnylander) July 15, 2018
Emery drew some headlines back in 2006 when he was forced to change his goalie mask, which had an image of boxer Mike Tyson on it.
Emery also made news last September, when he was arrested on allegations of physically abusing his then-fiance, Keshia Chante.
Chante, a former host on BET, had requested a restraining order, claiming she had been attacked several times in the prior two months.
Emery finished his career with a record of 156-145-86. In addition to the Stanley Cup in 2013, he and Corey Crawford shared the William M. Jennings Trophy that season for allowing the fewest goals in the league.
While authorities suspect that drowning is the official cause of death, police are still searching for clues.
“At this point in the investigation we have a lot more work to do,” said Inspector Marty Schulenberg. “We are still speaking to witnesses … We’re asking anyone with any information to come forward and speak to us.”
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