MONTREAL
Former NHL defenseman Bryan Marchment died unexpectedly in Montreal on Wednesday, his aide said. He was 53.
Longtime agent Rick Curran confirmed Marchment’s death to the Associated Press. Marchment was a scout for the San Jose Sharks in the NHL Draft in Montreal.
A cause of death was not immediately available.
“Bryan’s lifelong love of hockey was unparalleled, and he was one of the most dedicated, physical and competitive players to ever play the game,” the Sharks said in a statement.
Marchment played portions of 17 NHL seasons from 1989 to 2006 with Winnipeg, Chicago, Hartford, Edmonton, Tampa Bay, San Jose, Colorado, Toronto and Calgary.
A native of Toronto, he has worked in scouting and other roles for the Sharks and their American Hockey League affiliate since 2007.
Marchment was known for playing with an edge and sometimes going beyond it. With 2,307 penalty minutes, he ranks 31st overall in his NHL career. In his first 12 NHL seasons, he was suspended 13 times by the league.
Maple Leafs forward Mike Gartner suffered a partially collapsed lung in a clash with Marchment and then the Oilers during a 1996 game in Edmonton. Gartner had to return to Toronto by train because changes in air pressure could injure his lungs.
According to a New York Times article after the game, Marchment said his hit at Gartner was “payback time” from a past fight.
Some tributes on social media following news of his death described Marchment’s softer side off the ice. Christina Marleau, the wife of longtime Sharks captain Patrick Marleau, wrote that Marchment introduced the pair “and would remind us every time we see him.”
“The world really lost a good man today,” she said.
Marchment is survived by wife Kim, son Mason, a Florida Panthers forward, and daughter Logan.
– With files from The Canadian Press.