BSP-05 Former NHL champion goalie Emery dead at 35

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Former NHL champion goalie Emery dead at 35

MONTREAL, July 16, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Ray Emery, who helped the Chicago
Blackhawks win the 2013 Stanley Cup during an 11-season National Hockey
League career, died Sunday in his hometown of Hamilton, Canada. He was 35.

Police said Emery was reported missing while swimming with friends at
Hamilton Harbour. His body was found Sunday afternoon near the spot where he
was last seen, the victim of an apparent drowning, although an official cause
of death is pending.

Emery, a fourth round pick by Ottawa in the 2001 NHL Draft, played for
Ottawa, the Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks and Blackhawks before retiring
in 2016 with a career record of 145-86-28 with a 2.70 goals-against average,
.906 save percentage and 16 shutouts in 287 NHL games.

He went 21-17 with a 2.64 GAA and three shutouts in 39 Stanley Cup playoff
games, including 13-7 with Ottawa in a run to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final,
where the Senators lost to Anaheim.

“On behalf of the Ottawa Senators, I wish to express my sincere condolences
on the passing of Ray Emery,” Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said in a
statement.

“Ray was instrumental in our run to the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, and at his
best he brought a competitive edge and combative mentality to the game.”

Emery made his NHL debut with the Senators in 2002-03 and won his first
nine games to break Bob Froese’s record of eight straight victories to start
an NHL career set in 1982-83.

In 2005-06, Emery’s 12 wins in March tied Bernie Parent’s 1974 record for
most in one month.

“‘All the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile…’
Rest In Peace my friend,” Parent tweeted.

Flyers captain Claude Giroux tweeted, “Ray was a great teammate and an even
better friend. Rest in peace Razor. I’ll miss you man.”

“The Philadelphia Flyers are stunned and extremely saddened to hear of the
tragic passing of Ray Emery,” a team statement said. “Ray was an outstanding
teammate and an extremely gifted goaltender. He had exceptional athleticism,
was a fierce competitor and battled in every game he played with the Flyers.”

In 2012-13, Emery went 17-1 with a 1.94 GAA and with Blackhawks teammate
Corey Crawford won the Jennings Trophy for the team allowing the fewest goals
in a season.

“The Chicago Blackhawks organization was deeply saddened to hear of Ray
Emery’s passing,” the club said in a statement. “The Blackhawks will fondly
remember Ray as a fierce competitor, a good teammate and a Stanley Cup
champion.”

BSS/AFP/MSY/0853 hrs