Chris Simon Obituary: Former NHL player passed away at 52

Chris Simon Obituary: The death of former NHL winger Chris Simon is a tragic reminder of the potential long-term consequences of brain trauma sustained in contact sports like hockey.

Simon’s family attributes his death to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition associated with repeated head injuries. While CTE can only be definitively diagnosed postmortem, the family strongly believes that Simon struggled with the condition, which ultimately led to his death.

Chris Simon had a notable career spanning from 1992 to 2013, playing for seven NHL teams and also spending time in the KHL.

Known for his physical and aggressive style of play, Simon was valued as a loyal teammate and played a significant role in the Colorado Avalanche’s Stanley Cup victory in the 1995-96 season.

His passing has led to an outpouring of tributes from the hockey community, with former teammates and organizations remembering him fondly both for his contributions on the ice and his character off it.

Simon’s struggles with mental health and symptoms consistent with CTE were evident, as he filed for bankruptcy in 2017, citing an inability to work due to symptoms related to brain trauma sustained during his hockey career.

Simon’s death coincided with another former NHL player, Konstantin Koltsov, also reportedly dying by suicide on the same day. The news underscores the broader issue of mental health and brain trauma in professional sports.