Former NHLer dies at the age of 49

Former NHLer Zarley Zalapski has passed away at the young age of 49. Zalapski played from 1987 to 2000 with a multitude of teams, but was for a Calgary Flame for the longest.


Zalapski, from Edmonton, played 637 NHL games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers from 1987 to 2000. He was a Calgary Flame from 1993 to 1998.

We are deeply saddened with the news of Zarley's passing, Flames president and chief executive officer Ken King said in a statement Tuesday. We are proud that Zarley wore the Flames jersey, made Calgary his home following his playing career, represented our alumni executive and we will always remember him as a member of the Flames family. This is a terrible loss of a man with great character who truly loved the game of hockey. We express our sincere condolences to the Zalapski family.

No cause of death was given.