The hockey world is grieving the loss of former NHL enforcer Chris Simon, who passed away suddenly.
A native of Wawa, Ontario, Simon was born on January 30, 1972. His journey from local rinks to the pinnacle of professional hockey was a reflection of his determination, talent, and the obstacles he encountered along the way.
His family confirmed that Simon, aged 52, died by suicide on March 18, 2024. They attribute his struggles to brain trauma and suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition that is currently only diagnosable posthumously, although scientific advancements are being made towards diagnosing it in living individuals.
Throughout his NHL career from 1992 to 2008, Simon was involved in 101 fights and amassed 1,824 penalty minutes over 782 games. He also had the honor of winning the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996.
Simon’s career wasn’t without controversy. He received two of the NHL’s harshest suspensions. The first was a 25-game suspension during his tenure with the Islanders for hitting Rangers player Ryan Hollweg with his stick in March 2007. The second, a 30-game suspension, resulted from him stepping on Jarkko Ruutu’s leg during a game against the Penguins in December 2007.
Simon scored 144 goals and assisted on 161 others during his career in the NHL, playing for the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Rangers, and Islanders. His last NHL match was a playoff series with Minnesota against Colorado in April 2008. He later played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Europe and Asia’s premier hockey league, and was an All-Star in 2010 and 2011 before retiring after the 2012-13 season.
Despite earning approximately $15 million throughout his NHL career, Simon faced financial difficulties post-retirement. As reported by the Ottawa Citizen in 2017, he filed for bankruptcy and relied on social assistance and disability checks.
In addition to financial struggles, Simon grappled with health issues post-retirement, including symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), depression, anxiety, PTSD, and arthritis, which affected his ability to work.
In a public statement, Simon’s family stated their belief that CTE played a significant role in his death: “Our family has experienced firsthand Chris’s significant struggles with CTE, which, regrettably, brought about his passing.”
The family’s statement also conveyed their grief and the collective mourning of their community: “As we mourn the loss of a son, brother, father, partner, teammate, and friend, the entire community of Wawa joins us in our sorrow. We request privacy during this immensely challenging period and are grateful for the condolences shared by many, acknowledging our profound loss.”
Simon’s death was mourned by former teammates and the broader NHL community, with many sharing heartfelt tributes on social media. They highlighted his formidable presence on the ice and his caring nature. Former teammate Mike Commodore, who played with Simon in Calgary, described him as an intimidating figure on the ice but an exceptional individual and teammate, recounting their time together during the Flames’ 2004 campaign. Despite Simon’s intimidating reputation, Commodore said he showed remarkable kindness, especially during shared accommodations. His farewell message, “RIP Chris. You will be missed,” speaks to the strong bond they formed.
Simon is survived by four children from his second marriage to Valerie, whom he divorced in 2017.
