Former NHL goalie drowns

Ray Emery, the former NHL goaltender whose career spanned more than a decade and included stops in Ottawa, Chicago and Philadelphia, drowned in Hamilton Harbour on Sunday, police said.

Insp. Marty Schulenberg said Emery’s death does not appear to be suspicious, calling it a “case of misadventure.”

Schulenberg said Emery jumped off of a boat into the water near the Leander Boat Club to go swimming, and his friends called emergency services at about 6 a.m. Sunday when he didn’t resurface.

Emery, 35, played for several teams throughout his 11-year career, winning the William M. Jennings trophy — and the Stanley Cup — with the Blackhawks in 2013.

The rare goalie who didn’t hesitate to drop his gloves, Emery was involved in multiple altercations on the ice, including one in 2007 in which he scuffled with Buffalo Sabres goalie Martin Biron.

Biron was among those mourning Emery online Sunday.

“So sad. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends,” he wrote on Twitter.

Schulenberg said Emery’s body was found at about 2:50 p.m. Sunday, about 20 metres from where he went into the water. He said a post mortem will be completed on Monday.

“Mr. Emery was taking a swim this morning and the circumstances around that are a part of the investigation,” said Schulenberg. “Those details remain to be uncovered by our investigators.”

Schulenberg said first responders were not able to locate Emery right away, and so they called in the dive unit. He said the search took longer than anticipated because they had to ensure the safety of the dive team.

“It’s a lengthy process and safety is paramount to our divers,” he said. “We need to take the time do it safely and that’s what the delay was.”

Emery played junior hockey for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas began his career. Dubas posted about Emery’s death on Twitter Sunday afternoon.

“Ray’s smile and intelligence made him a magnetic personality,” Dubas wrote.