Ray Emery, the former NHL goaltender, tragically passed away by drowning while swimming in his hometown of Hamilton on Sunday, at the age of 35.Reports from the Police Department of Hamilton state that a missing person report was filed after 6 am on Sunday at the Hamilton Harbour, which is located on the western edge of Lake Ontario. Emery’s body was discovered close to the area where he was last seen on Sunday afternoon, according to the police.
Further examinations will determine the exact cause of Emery’s death.
Inspector Marty Schulenberg informed the Hamilton Spectator, “They went out for a swim, and unfortunately, he did not resurface after diving in. We responded with Hamilton Fire and EMS. Regrettably, our search efforts in the water and around the piers were unsuccessful.”
Emery, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Ottawa Senators in 2001, played for several NHL teams including the Senators, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks during his over 11-year NHL career. Known as ‘Razor’ for his aggressive style, Emery helped the Senators reach the Stanley Cup final in 2007 and also won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013 as a backup to Corey Crawford.
His last NHL appearance was for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2014-15 season, followed by a season in the American Hockey League and DEL in Germany. Emery concluded his NHL career with a record of 145-86-28, 16 shutouts, and a 2.70 goals-against average.
Emery battled avascular necrosis, the same condition that ended Bo Jackson’s two-sport career. Additionally, he faced various off-ice challenges throughout his career, including a road rage incident and an altercation with a trainer in Russia.
