Winnipeg Jets center Rick Rypien has passed away, according to multiple reports.
The 27-year-old, who had spent his entire career in the Vancouver organization before signing with the Jets this offseason, was found dead in his Alberta home. The Globe and Mail's James Mirtle was one of the first to report the news and tweeted earlier in the night that police had confirmed Rypien was found dead.
The Jets released a statement regarding the death of Rypien. It reads:
"We are deeply saddened to confirm Rick's passing. As many people are aware, he had strong ties to True North Sports and Entertainment, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, the former Manitoba Moose Hockey Club and the Vancouver Canucks. We would like to express our sincere sympathies to the Rypien family as well as Rick's friends. We also appreciate all of the support that has come pouring in from Rick's fans. Rick was a talented player with an extremely bright future. His hunger for the game made him a valued team member both on and off the ice. This loss has impacted us as more than just a hockey team."
News1130 in Vancouver also reported on Monday night that the cause of Rypien's death was suicide.
As Mirtle pointed out in The Globe and Mail, Rypien suffered from depression and missed most of last season because of a leave of absence. The leave, his second he took in the past three seasons, was for personal reasons.
Rypien's death is the second untimely NHL death in the past few months. New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard passed away in May.
