Former NHL player Kyle Calder died Monday. He was 47.
His daughter Madison announced her father鈥檚 death in a social media post. The Los Angeles Jr. Kings, the team Calder coached from 2020-22, said he died after a brief illness.
鈥淣ever in a million years would I have thought this day would come,鈥� on Instagram. 鈥淭here will forever be a void in my heart but forever a spot just for you.鈥�
Calder played 608 regular-season and playoff games as a winger in the league from 1999-2009. The Manville, Alberta, native spent a majority of that time with Chicago and also played for Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles and Anaheim.
鈥淜yle embodied the values that make our alumni family so special: his loyalty, toughness, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to those around him,鈥� the NHL Alumni Association said in a post Tuesday memorializing him. 鈥淗e was tough as nails on the ice, a fierce competitor who never backed down, yet behind that grit was a teddy bear heart. Kyle cared deeply for his teammates, friends, and everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was a protector, a loyal friend, and someone who always put others before himself.鈥�
Calder coached youth teams in Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston since 2018.
鈥淜yle approached life with the same passion, intensity and incredible dedication that defined his play,鈥� Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said. 鈥淗is commitment to the game remained strong long after his professional career ended, sharing his love for hockey with all generations of players.”
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