Chris Simon91裸聊视频檚 family says the late NHL enforcer died by suicide.

And it 91裸聊视频渟trongly believes91裸聊视频� 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 player91裸聊视频檚 former agent, Paul Theofanous.

Once one of hockey91裸聊视频檚 most feared tough guys, the bruising forward from Wawa, Ont., compiled 1,824 penalty minutes 91裸聊视频� including more than 100 fights 91裸聊视频� in 782 games with seven NHL teams across 15 seasons.

Simon91裸聊视频檚 loved ones believe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) played a significant factor in his suicide.

91裸聊视频淭he family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand, that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death,91裸聊视频� the statement read. 91裸聊视频淲e are grieving with the loss of our son, brother, father, partner, teammate and friend.91裸聊视频�

The family added it won91裸聊视频檛 be releasing further details at this time.

91裸聊视频淭he entire Wawa community is sharing in our grief,91裸聊视频� the statement continued. 91裸聊视频淲e appreciate everyone who shares in our tragic loss.91裸聊视频�

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 York91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淗owever, being an enforcer was associated with dying approximately 10 years earlier and more frequently of suicide and drug overdose than matched controls,91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淭errible,91裸聊视频� Nilan said of the suicide. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a horrendous thing.91裸聊视频�

Nilan didn91裸聊视频檛 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 Probert91裸聊视频檚 wife, Dani, in hopes of helping future generations of players.

91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 do it because I want to know if I have CTE,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not something I think about every day or at all.91裸聊视频�

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 week91裸聊视频檚 NHL general managers meetings in Florida, commissioner Gary Bettman called Simon91裸聊视频檚 death 91裸聊视频渢ragic,91裸聊视频� but refrained from directly addressing the family91裸聊视频檚 charge it91裸聊视频檚 linked to CTE.

91裸聊视频淲e extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends,91裸聊视频� Bettman told reporters in Manalapan, Fla. 91裸聊视频淥n all these matters we wait to see what the medical experts tell us.

91裸聊视频淗aving said that, I think it91裸聊视频檚 well-documented all the progress that we91裸聊视频檝e made over the last couple of decades to make the game as safe as possible.91裸聊视频�

Once a staple in the NHL, fighting has seen a steep decline as the sport has become faster and more skilled 91裸聊视频� but it91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淔or all of us who played the game, and certainly for guys who played the game like Chris did, it91裸聊视频檚 sad,91裸聊视频� Nilan said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really sad.91裸聊视频�

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