Former Calgary Flames defender Zarley Zalapski passes away at 49

Former member of Calgary Flames dead at 49 Former Flames defenceman Zarley Zalapski died suddenly on Tuesday. Glenn Campbell has more on the man who played for the team in 1993…

Former NHL defenceman, Zarley Zalapski, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 49 and preliminary indications are that he died from complications related to a heart condition.

Zalapski was born in Edmonton and was drafted by Pittsburgh in 1986.

He also played with the Hartford Whalers and Philadelphia Flyers and came to Calgary in 1993.

Zalapski played for the Flames from 1993 to 1998 and had 21 goals and 55 assists in over 178 games.

He returned to live in Calgary after his retirement in 2010.

Ken King, President of the Calgary Flames, released the following statement on Tuesday.

“We are deeply saddened with the news of Zarley’s passing. We are proud that Zarley wore the Flames jersey; made Calgary his home following his playing career; represented our alumni executive; and we will always remember him as a member of the Flames' family. This is a terrible loss of a man with great character who truly loved the game of hockey. We express our sincere condolences to the Zalapski family.”

Zalapski was part of the Flames’ alumni and was active at the association’s skates at the Saddledome.

He joined the alumni executive in the past year, bringing a new energy to the board, and members say he will be sadly missed.

‘You don’t think things like this are going to happen, it hits you hard. Our entire Alumni Association is kind of reeling right now, not quite understanding what happened and to see a guy that has been an integral part of our alumni here recently gone, it’s very sad,” said Joel Otto.

Jim Peplinski played on Canada’s Olympic team with Zalapski and says he was a ‘mountain of a guy’ and that’s it’s hard to believe he is gone.

“Zarley was an absolute thoroughbred as an athlete. He had a tremendous level of fitness, some of it likely genetic and some of it from his discipline and care for his body. He was as strong as an ox and he had incredible endurance,” said Peplinski. “It’s hard to believe that someone so young in age would have a passing so early when you’ve got that type of physical attributes behind you.”

The official cause of death has not been released.