BOB PROBERT--Former NHL Red Wing and Blackhawk dies at 45

웃 · July 6, 2010

http://seattletimes....107_digs06.html

Retired enforcer Bob Probert dies at 45 | NHL

Retired enforcer Bob Probert, adept with his fists and with a stick in a 16-season career with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, died Monday after suffering chest pains while boating with his family. He was 45.

By STEPHEN WILSON

AP Sports Writer

Probert, 45, had chest pains while boating: Retired enforcer Bob Probert, adept with his fists and with a stick in a 16-season career with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, died Monday after suffering chest pains while boating with his family. He was 45.

"Bob lost the fight of his life this afternoon," said Probert's father-in-law, Dan Parkinson, a police officer who performed CPR before Probert was taken to Ontario's Windsor Regional Medical Center.

Probert was on a boat on Lake St. Clair with his wife, children and in-laws when he "developed severe chest pains," family friend Rich Rogow said at a news conference at the medical center.

Probert, a forward who struggled to overcome drinking problems during his time in the NHL, played for the Red Wings from 1985 to 1994 and for the Blackhawks from 1995 to 2002.

"Bob was always there for his teammates and was one of the toughest men to ever play in the NHL," Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch said in a statement. "He also was one of the kindest, most colorful and beloved players Detroit has ever known."

Windsor, Ontario, native Probert had 384 points (163 goals, 221 assists) in 935 career regular-season games. His 3,300 career penalty minutes rank sixth in league history.

Probert was charged multiple times with driving under the influence while playing for Detroit. He also was caught trying to carry cocaine from Canada into the United States in 1989 and served a six-month sentence in federal prison and a halfway house.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Lord Infamous