The summer has not been kind to hockey.

In May, New York Rangers left winger Derek Boogaard mixed alcohol and oxycodone and died. Earlier this month, Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien killed himself, and now, just yesterday afternoon, 15-year NHL veteran Wade Belak has been found dead in Toronto. Foul play isn’t suspected and we don’t officially know the cause of death, but CBC is saying it was suicide. Three tragedies since May.

A 12th-overall draft pick in 1994, the 35-year old Belak spent his time in pro hockey with the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators. He retired in March, but had been named as one of the contestants for the upcoming third season of the CBC’s “Battle of the Blades” and was scheduled to be part of the Predators’ television broadcast team. Former Nashville Predators assistant General Manager Mike Santos (now with the Panthers) talked to the Miami Herald about Belak’s passing, and put it way better than anyone writing a blog about it could.

“He was as friendly and nice a person as I have ever met,” Santos said. “He would give you the shirt off his back. He did so much for kids and our community. He was wonderful. I’m shocked. I’m sad. I don’t know what to say. It’s a real shame. He’s the best.”

That’s it in a nutshell, really. You remember the kindness, and you don’t know why it was taken away. The Predators, the team with whom Belak spent his final three seasons, issued their own statement:

“The entire Nashville Predators organization and family is shocked and saddened by the sudden and untimely passing of Wade Belak. Wade was a beloved member of the organization, a terrific teammate and wonderful father and husband. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Jennifer and children Andie and Alex. We offer our full support to them at this very difficult time.”

If you visit our friends at Puck Daddy you can read comments from Gary Bettman, Donald Fehr and more as they come in throughout the day. Hopefully this is the last time hockey fans and families will have to go through this, at least for a little while.

There are few jobs in sports tougher than playing goalie in the NHL, and Calgary Flames goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff attests to that here, albeit unintentionally. There’s a flip pass from the other end of the ice, and I can’t tell if Kiprusoff was checking NBA scores on his Blackberry or what, but he doesn’t even see this puck that drops from the rafters and trickles by the unsuspecting Finn. Which really isn’t surprising when you consider that Finland doesn’t really have issues with rodentia or border patrolling. They just kinda hang out and play in the snow all day. via Puck Daddy, I think.
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The NHL suspended Calgary Flames goalie Jamie McLennan for the next five games of the playoffs:

McLennan was given a match penalty for slashing Detroit's Johan Franzen in the midsection at 17:01 of the third period, one of four penalties the Flames were assessed for aggressive and illegal use of the stick (slashing or cross-checking) in the closing minutes of the Red Wings' 5-1 victory.

Hey, that's part of the game isn't it?  Everyone knows you've got to keep your head on swivel when you're embarrassing your opponent.  Apparently, all the Flames were taking some cheap shots in the third period:

[Calgary captain Jarome] Iginla took hooking and cross-checking minors in the final minute.  "Even their captain, he should be in charge and he was one of the guys who probably embarrassed himself because too many penalties for no reason," Hasek said before Game 6. "I think it was embarrassing."

Hold on a sec, Dominik – who is embarrassed? Are you embarrassed for him like I am for George Clooney when I watch old episodes of The Facts of Life?  Or are you saying Ingila should be embarrassed but he's not like Ben Affleck should be for every project post Good Will Hunting.  I'm confused, and it would sure help if Mrs. Garrett or Robin Williams could explain this.  Either way, hockey takes a violent turn.  I'm shocked. -KD

Picture note: Lovely Tailor is from Canada, so I assume she is a hockey fan.