Coleman, AB – 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.
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