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Winnipeg Jets Rypien found dead at 27

Heidi Pope Werner Written by Heidi Pope Werner, Tuesday August 16 2011
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Winnipeg Jets center Rick Rypien was found dead in his Alberta home Monday. Police told local media there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. Rypien was on his second leave in three years from the NHL for personal matters.

Rypien was known for his toughness on the ice, but his 2010-11 season was tarnished by a six-game suspension for an altercation with a Minnesota fan in October. The league gave him a six-game suspension; the longest handed down for a player-fan fight in 28 years. During the 2008-02 season, the center took a leave of absence after suffering a series of injuries.

In November, he took a leave of absence from the Canucks, and was not offered a new deal.  He had recently signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Jets as a free agent after six seasons with Vancouver. Born in Coleman, Alta., Rypien began his pro career in Winnipeg with the Manitoba Moose, the Canucks' AHL affiliate. The Jets gave him a chance to re-establish his career in his home province.
 
Rypien now joins the list of other NHL players who have died before age 30. He is the second young NHL player to die in the off-season. In May, 28-year old New York Rangers tough guy Derek Boogaard was found dead with oxycodone and alcohol in his system. Boogaard's death was ruled accidental.  

Rypien is the cousin of former Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien.


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