Former NHL defenseman Bryan Marchment died on Wednesday in Montreal at the age of 53, as was confirmed by his agent Rick Curran to the Associated Press.
Marchment was in Montreal at the NHL draft as a scout for the San Jose Sharks. The cause of death was not immediately announced.
“It’s a sad day for for me personally, a very sad day for our organization,” Mike Grier, the newly named Sharks general manager, said. “He meant a lot to a lot of people in our organization, our players, our staff — anyone who knew Brian, the type of man he was. He was just an honest, a down-to-earth, loving person who just cared about everyone. He had time for everyone in the building. Anyone he came across, he had time for.”
Grier said Marchment “was great to me” throughout the duration of their time playing together.
“[Marchment] treated me with respect right away and made me feel at home, and if I ever needed anything, whether it was a dinner, a home-cooked dinner, instead of eating out every day, he and (wife) Kim would have me over,” he said. “It’s a very difficult day.”
Grier said the team employees would continue to work at the draft with sadness.
“I gave them some time to regroup and have some time to themselves and process and grieve,” he said. “I know ‘Mush’ — that’s what he would say. He would want us to get back to work and do our best and have the best draft possible, so we’ll get back to work.”
“Just shocking and devastating news,” Chuck Fletcher, general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, said. “Very young man. Obviously, you’re thinking of his family and friends right now.”
In a statement on Twitter, the San Jose Sharks said, “We are heartbroken. Our deepest condolences go out to Bryan’s family, friends and our Sharks community at this time.”
“Bryan’s lifelong love of hockey was unparalleled, and he was amongst the most dedicated, physical, and fiercest players to ever play the game,” the statement noted. “He spent more than 20 seasons with the Sharks organization — 334 games as a player and 15 as a member of the Sharks scouting department.”
“Most importantly, Bryan was a loving son, husband, and father. Our deepest condolences go out to his parents, his wife Kim and son Mason and daughter Logan,” it added.
When Marchment retired from hockey in 2006, he went on to work for the Sharks. According to People, Marchment scored 40 goals and 182 points throughout his hockey career, and in 1987, he was a first-round draft pick by the Winnipeg Jets.
Marchment’s son also plays hockey in the position of forward for the Florida Panthers.