Former NHL star and Stanley Cup winner Ray Emery died from what has been reported by the Washington Times as an accidental drowning. Emery was swimming in Hamilton Harbor, which is on the western edge of Lake Ontario.
Emery was an established NHL goalie, who had an 11-year career in the league, which concluded in 2015, with a Stanley Cup win with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Divers discovered the body of Ray Emery on the western side of Lake Ontario. According to The Spec, Emery was a resident of the area and was just visiting a friend who owned a boat.
Emery ended up jumping from the boat into the water, which is when his friends did not see him come back to the surface. Those in the group immediately called emergency services. His body was later discovered 20 meters away from where he originally dove in.
Police are treating this like a drowning and have said they do not suspect foul play. Prior to the discovery of Emery, local police went on Twitter and said they were searching for a missing male swimmer. They even requested support from the Leander Boat Club.
Ray Emery had a solid NHL career
Ray Emery had a very successful and distinguished career in the National Hockey League Emery played for the Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Philadelphia Flyers.
He was key in leading the Ottawa Senators to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007 and then later ended up winning the Stanley Cup in 2013, with the Blackhawks as a backup goaltender.
The Chicago Blackhawks organization called him a fierce competitor and a good teammate. Philadelphia Flyers President Paul Holmgren praised Emery's work ethic and talent as a strong goalie.
Both Ray Emery and his fellow Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford earned the William Jennings Trophy, for allowing the fewest goals in the league. Throughout his career, Emery played in over 300 NHL regular games and playoff games. His career record is 145-86-28, with a 2.70 goals-against average. In his career, he recorded 16 shutouts.
Ray Emery faced off the ice legal issues
While Ray Emery was a force on the ice, he did battle some serious legal issues, including a road rage incident, and at one time assaulted one of his trainers, which got him booted from Ottawa's training camp. Despite these incidents, Emery's former agent J.P. Barry had highs and lows throughout his career. However, Emery was known to fight through the lows and keep on going.
Many past-and-present players offered their condolences and shared a tribute to Emery. Former teammate Dan Carcillo said on Twitter that Ray will always be remembered as a good person and that he envied his contagious personality. Players all over the league pointed to Emery's mentorship and leadership skills, especially during his final with the AHL.