Retired Goalie Ray Emery, aka “Razor” drowned on Sunday, July 15
Former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ray Emery has passed away. The retired NHL goaltender was swimming with several friends. Emery dove underwater and never resurfaced. Rescue efforts turned to a recovery mission after several hours.
The 35-year-old Emery went swimming with friends at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club and dove in the water around 6 a.m. ET. His body was eventually recovered later on Sunday afternoon.
Ray Emery: Career
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Along with the Flyers, Emery played for the Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, and Anaheim Ducks. He was the ninth overall pick of the Senators in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Emery shared the 2013 William M. Jennings trophy with teammate Corey Crawford.
He notched a 1.92 goals against average and 0.922 save percentage during that season, during which he helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup. His 12 wins to start the 2013 season was an NHL record. Emery was also a two time Masterton Memorial Trophy Finalist.
After an injury to repair a torn abdominal muscle, doctors discovered that Emery had avascular necrosis. He would miss the remainder of the 2010 season for the Flyers to have a bone graft to repair the hip issues caused by the disease. This disorder also affected football player Bo Jackson. Unlike Jackson, Emery was able to continue his career after successful surgery.
Friends and first responders have identified victim in early morning drowning at the Hamilton Harbour as former @NHL goalie Ray Emery. Ray played the @ottawasenators, @NHLBlackhawks, @AnaheimDucks and the @NHLFlyers. He was swimming with several friends & never surfaced #HamOnt pic.twitter.com/QpD2tNwDzs
— Andrew Collins (@ACollinsPhoto) July 15, 2018
After the surgery, Emery rehabbed and was called up to the Ducks. He replaced Dan Ellis on March 11, 2011, in his first appearance since the injury forced him out of the Flyers lineup. Emery was the NHL’s Second Star of the Week the week of March 14th, with a 0.99 goals against, a .926 save percentage and a record of 2-0-0.
Troubled Personal Life
Emery made his claim to fame as a Flyer with a fight against Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. He also had a troubled personal life. Accusations of spousal abuse by his former finance, recreational drug use, and road rage incidents followed Emery from city to city. He was arrested on September 16, 2017, for assaulting his then finance, Canadian singer Keshia Chante.
He is one of the few black players to have his name on the Stanley Cup. Only eight have done so, including just three goaltenders. Emery was one of them.