Former NHL defenseman Steve Montador was found dead in his Mississauga, Ontario, home early Sunday morning. He was 35.
Montador made his NHL debut in 2001 with the Calgary Flames and played for six teams in parts of 10 seasons. He had 33 goals and 98 assists in 571 career games.
Montador played for the Flames, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres and Chicago Blackhawks during his career.
The Blackhawks organization issued the following statement:
“With deep sadness we mourn the unfortunate loss of former Blackhawk Steve Montador. We join the many others throughout the NHL in keeping Steve’s family and friends in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Montador, who was undrafted after playing five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, signed with the Flames in April 2000. He won the Calder Cup with the Saint John Flames in his rookie season in the American Hockey League.
According to the Mississauga News, a friend of Montador’s discovered his body at 2 a.m., and he was pronounced dead just shortly after police arrived. Foul play is not suspected, and an autopsy will be conducted, police said.
The Ducks expressed their condolences on Twitter:
“It is with great sadness to learn of the death of former #NHLDucks defenseman Steve Montador. Our thoughts go out to Steve’s family.”
Born in Vancouver, Montador retired from professional hockey in 2013 after playing 11 games in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League.
According to the Los Angeles Times, shortly before his retirement, Montador took a leave of absence from the team because of lingering effects from a concussion he suffered while with the Blackhawks in March 2012. Montador spoke about his battle with concussion symptoms during an interview with CSNChicago.com in 2013.