Former NHL winger Chris Simon dies at 52

Former NHL enforcer Chris Simon has died at 52. His family confirmed he died by suicide in a statement released Tuesday night.

"The family strongly believes and witnessed firsthand, that Chris struggled immensely from CTE which unfortunately resulted in his death," the statement,provided by Simon's former agent, Paul Theofanous, on behalf of Simon's family, read.

"We are grieving with the loss of our son, brother, father, partner, teammate and friend. The entire Wawa community is sharing in our grief. We will not be releasing any further details at this time and ask for privacy during this very difficult time. We appreciate everyone who shares in our tragic loss."

There's no way to confirm CTE -- the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy -- while a person is alive, though doctors can identify suspected cases based on symptoms and neurological exams.

Simon was known for his physicality in a career that saw him play for seven franchises. A member of the Quebec Nordiques, he was part of the team that relocated to Denver and helped the Avalanche win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history during the 1995-96 season.

"Chris was a great guy, a beloved teammate and important part of our first championship season," Avalanche president Joe Sakic said in a statement. "He was a really good hockey player who could score goals, was a big presence in the dressing room and was the first person to stand up and defend his teammates. Off the ice he was an unbelievable guy and a caring father, son, brother, and friend. He will be sorely missed."

The Islanders posted on social media that Simon "epitomized what it means to be an Islander, someone who wore his heart on his sleeve both on the ice and in the community."

The NHL called Simon a "fierce competitor and teammate." The NHL Alumni Association's social media account read:"Chris was never afraid to stand up for his teammates, and played a key role in the dressing room. He was a beloved friend, father, brother, and son."

"For a big tough player, he was also a very kind, caring individual who was always respectful and grateful for advice," former agent Larry Kelly said in a text message to The Associated Press.

Simon spent the bulk of his career with the Washington Capitals and scored a career-high 29 goals and 49 points during the 1999-2000 season. He would also play for the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Islanders and Minnesota Wild over his career.

Simon, who was of Ojibwa descent, was considered a role model for First Nations hockey players across Canada.

"Chris Simon was most definitely an intimidating guy on the ice," former teammate Mike Commodoreposted on social media. "We spent a lot of time together during Flames '04 run since we were both living in the hotel. ... He couldn't have been nicer to me. RIP Chris. You will be missed."

Simon last played in the NHL in the 2007-08 season before spending the next five seasons playing in the KHL in Russia, where he became a two-time all-star.

He finished his NHL career with 1,824 penalty minutes and 305 points in 864 games.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.