Chris Simon was an NHL enforcer with such teams as the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders, who won a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche.
- Died: March 18, 2024 (Who else died on March 18?)
- Details of death: Died by suicide at the age of 52.
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If you or someone you know is experiencing warning signs of suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, calling 800-273-8255, texting HOME to 741741, or accessing the online chat service. Formerly the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the network provides free, confidential support for people in crisis or emotional distress, 24/7 year-round. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for more information.
Chris Simon’s legacy
Born and raised in Wawa, Ontario, of Ojibwa descent, Simon grew up playing hockey and started playing for the junior team the Ottawa 67’s in his mid-teens. He made his NHL debut in 1992 with the Quebec Nordiques, playing three seasons for them before a trade to the Colorado Avalanche. In a single season with the Avalanche, Simon helped the team to their first Stanley Cup victory. He spent his longest tenure – seven seasons – with the Washington Capitals, going to the Stanley Cup finals with the team in 1998.
After leaving the Capitals, Simon bounced quickly between teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, and New York Islanders. In 2008, he joined the Kontinental Hockey League, based largely in Russia. He learned Russian over the years as he played for such teams as Vityaz Chekhov and Metallurg Novokuznetsk until his retirement in 2013.
Simon was a powerful player with a reputation for frequent fights – more than 100 of them in his years with the NHL. He was frequently suspended, including a 30-game suspension, one of the longest in NHL history. His hard style of play and fighting is believed to have contributed to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as well as other long-term injuries such as arthritis. Simon filed for bankruptcy in 2017, unable to work due to these conditions, and a doctor testified on his behalf regarding his injuries. His family attributed his death to his struggles with CTE.
Notable quote
“I fight because I do it well. When I see my teammates picked on, I understand that you have to punish those people. And if someone runs into your goalie, a fight is unavoidable.” —from a 2011 interview for Russian Machine Never Breaks, translated from Russian
Tributes to Chris Simon
Full obituary: The Washington Post
