14°c Light rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
NHL veteran Zezel, 44, dies after long illness
Zezel had reportedly struggled on and off with a rare and serious blood disease called hemolytic anemia the past 10 years and had been in critical condition in 2001.
The Toronto Sun reported that he was admitted to hospital last week for scheduled surgery, but complications developed and his condition worsened.
Zezel was born in Toronto and played junior hockey with the Toronto Marlies before the Philadelphia Flyers chose him 41st overall in the 1983 NHL draft.
He scored a career-best 33 goals in 1986-87 for the Flyers and recorded a combined 49 assists for Philadelphia and St. Louis in 1988-89 after he was traded to the Blues for Mike Bullard.
He helped the Toronto Maple Leafs to a pair of conference-final runs in 1993 and '94 and later spent a couple of seasons with the Vancouver Canucks.
In 873 NHL games with Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington, Toronto, Dallas, New Jersey and Vancouver, he scored 219 goals with 389 assists and was a plus-39.
Following his NHL career, Zezel remained active in the hockey community, running a successful hockey school and coaching.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 27, 2009 C2
- Back to Top
- Return to Hockey
Poll
Most Popular Hockey
- Ready for prime time
- Logan Couture scores PP goal in OT to give Sharks 2-1 victory over Kings in Game 3
- Sweden beats Switzerland 5-1, wins gold at world hockey championship
- Ex-Jets MacLean, Carlyle on Sochi coaching list
- Jets cut ties to ECHL club
- Sharks fined $100,000 for GM Doug Wilson's comments about Raffi Torres' suspension
- NHL Playoff Capsules
- Canada's Paul Henderson, Danielle Goyette enter IIHF Hall of Fame
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- Young, 7th-seeded Red Wings have evened 2nd round series at 1 with top-seeded Blackhawks
- Ready for prime time
- Jets cut ties to ECHL club
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- Boston completes miraculous comeback in overtime to oust Maple Leafs
- Colts drop Game 7 in OHL final
- Scheifele’s dominance makes Jets look wise
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- 'It's the worst feeling'
- Enough of Buff: Get rid of him
- For first time, Jets GM Cheveldayoff is poised to put stamp on the franchise
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- Young prospects will get every opportunity to stick with the big club: Cheveldayoff
- It's broke - Fix it
- Jets' playoff hopes dealt fatal blow
- This end-of-season scenario old, and Jets fans and players know it
- Win against Montreal Jets' last hope in playoff push
- Jets edge Sabres
- Caps just too much for Jets
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Boogaard family sues NHL for son's death, says it is to blame for brain damage
- Jets cut ties to ECHL club
- The Boston OT Party
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- The Gretzky of Gretzky collectors sells hoard that brought him closer to game
- Enough of Buff: Get rid of him
- Winnipeg Jets among most expensive pro teams to watch
- It's broke - Fix it
- When money talks, it says, 'End fighting in the NHL'
- Manitobans go fourth, fifth in WHL draft
- Slideshow: Things that didn't exist the last time the Leafs were in the playoffs
- Summer could be a sizzler
- Wheat Kings land Patrick after draft day deal
- Chevy's choice: Stick with Noel or pursue Vigneault
- Saturday's game had it all -- what a blast
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.