Ray Emery Cause of Death: How Did the Former NHL Goalie Die?

Former NHL goalie Ray Emery has died. According to TMZ, Emery’s body was found “near the docks” at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club in Ontario, on Sunday morning. Emery had been swimming in the area and “failed to emerge after diving.” Although an autopsy has yet to be completed, the Hamilton Police Department said that Emery’s cause of death appears to be drowning. He was just 35 years old at the time of his passing.

“According to the Hamilton Police Department, Emery was reported missing just after 6 a.m. Sunday in Hamilton Harbour, which is on the western tip of Lake Ontario. His body was recovered in close proximity to where he was last seen later in the afternoon, police said,” according to ESPN.

“They went out for a swim and unfortunately he did not emerge after diving in. We responded along with Hamilton Fire and EMS. Unfortunately, our efforts on the water and in the area just around the piers were met with negative results,” police Inspector Marty Schulenberg told The Hamilton Spectator, according to ESPN.

Prior to his NHL career, Emery played juniors in the Ontario Hockey League for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. He was named the OHL Goaltender of the Year for the 2001-02 season.

Emery played 11 seasons in the NHL. The Ottawa Senators chose him 99th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the Stanley Cup finals with the team in 2007. Two years later, he inked a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Philadelphia Flyers.

In February 2011, Emery joined the Anaheim Ducks, before heading to Chicago for two years. He won a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. After winning the Cup, Emery returned to Philadelphia, agreeing to a $1.65 million contract to play backup to the team’s starting goaltender at the time, Steve Mason. The team re-signed him for another year, but he was on the move once more in 2015. In the fall of that year, the Tampa Bay Lightning took Emery on, giving him a shot by letting him join the team’s training camp. He ended up being released by the Lightning a couple of weeks later, officially ending his career in the NHL.

Shortly after his death was confirmed, the NHL Alumni tweeted out a tribute post to him. You can see that post below.

Several players have also tweeted out their condolences, including Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk.

Emery was not married and did not have any children.

Read More From Heavy

Emeline Grier Miller Cause of Death: How Did Bode Miller’s Daughter Die?