Coleman, AB (Sports Network) - Winnipeg Jets center Rick Rypien was found
dead in his Coleman home Monday afternoon. He was 27.
Sgt. Patrick Webb of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they got a phone
call at 12:30 p.m. local time to go to a residence in Coleman. He did not
release who made the phone call or where the body was found in the home, but
said RCMP determined it to be a nonsuspicious sudden death.
Webb said he doesn't know if a toxicology report has been ordered.
Angela Rypien, the cousin of Rick, confirmed the news on her Twitter account.
"I will never forget today and what sadness and hurt it has brought upon my
family!," she said via Twitter. "R.I.P Rick Rypien, I love you so much and
will miss you more than anything!"
Angela is the daughter of Super Bowl QB Mark Rypien.
Rick Rypien broke into the NHL with Vancouver in 2005 and played for the
Canucks for parts of six seasons, compiling nine goals and seven assists over
119 games.
He played in nine games last season for the parent club before being signed by
Winnipeg as a free agent this summer.
It's the second death of an NHL player in the last three months. Derek
Boogaard, an enforcer who spent last season with the New York Rangers, died on
May 13. He was 28.
The Sports Network