Former NHL player Kyle Calder, 47, has died, his daughter wrote in an Instagram post.
“Never in a million years would I have thought his day would come,” the post by Calder’s daughter, Madison, reads. “Save me a spot on the ice, Dad.”
The announcement of his death came with a statement from the Los Angeles Jr. Kings, the team Calder coached, that their coach was dealing with “a brief illness,” but his cause of death is currently unknown.
The former forward was drafted in the fifth round of the 1997 NHL draft and played in the league from 1999 to 2010.
His career spanned over 10 seasons, playing for the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks. Over the course of his NHL career, the winger played in 608 regular-season and playoff games.
He spent the most time with the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he played six seasons. In that time, he appeared in 359 games, scoring 85 goals and 210 points.
The Canadian native’s athletic career even extended beyond the NHL.
He won a silver medal against Russia with the 1999 Canadian World Junior Team, won a gold medal with the Canadian National Team at the 2003 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, and placed fourth with the Canadian National Team in 2006.
“Thank you for being my biggest fan,” Madison said in her post. She was one of five children.
“I know you’re skating around in heaven, cheering all of us on from above.”
Following the news of his passing, the hockey world has united to honor his life.
“Kyle embodied the values that make our alumni family so special: his loyalty, toughness, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to those around him,” the NHL Alumni Association posted to Facebook Tuesday.
“Kyle approached life with the same passion, intensity and incredible dedication that defined his play,” said Danny Wirtz, CEO of Calder’s former team, the Chicago Blackhawks.
The father of five lives on through his wife and children.
