Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta have confirmed that Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien, 27, was found dead in his home in Crowsnest Pass, AB, on Monday.
According to a report in the Toronto Globe and Mail, RCMP officials confirmed the death was not of a suspicious nature.
Rypien had spent his entire six-season NHL career with the Vancouver Canucks, totaling 16 points and 226 penalty minutes in 119 games. He had 1 assist and 31 penalty minutes in nine games this past season. He missed part of the season on a leave of absence due to personal reasons.
He also had 2 assists in 11 American Hockey League games with the Manitoba Moose, and 1 goal in seven AHL playoff games.
Rypien's previous success with the Winnipeg-based Moose -- he spent parts of five seasons there and became a fan favorite -- had led to his signing with a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Jets last month.
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