Former NHL star Lyle Odelein has died. He was 58.
The former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman died on Friday, October, 2, from a reported heart attack, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. An official cause of death has not been released at the time of publication.
“Lyle was one of those people who left an impression wherever he went,” the NHL Alumni Association wrote in a statement via Facebook. “A fierce competitor on the ice and a loyal teammate and friend away from it, he brought toughness, heart, humour and an unmistakable passion to everything he did.”
The association continued, “Over more than 1,000 NHL games, Lyle earned the respect of teammates and opponents alike. But his story went far beyond hockey.”
Odelein played for eight NHL teams during his professional career from 1989 to 2006, and was a member of the Montreal Canadiens’ 1993 Stanley Cup championship team.
He is survived by his wife Laurel and their three children. The NHL Alumni Association remembered him as a “devoted family man and businessman.”
“Those who knew Lyle will remember much more than the player,” the statement continued. “They’ll remember the friend, the stories and laughs, his strength and loyalty, and someone who genuinely valued the people around him.”
Odelein previously survived a near-fatal blood infection in March 2018 after he was pricked by cactus needles on an Arizona golf trip with friends. He underwent nearly 24 hours of surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma. At the time, doctors did not expect the former athlete to recover.
When he finally regained consciousness, he was paralyzed from the neck-down and began a lengthy rehabilitation process that helped him slowly regain his speech and, eventually, the ability to walk.
“It’s unbelievable,” Odelein told the Montreal Gazette of his recovery that October. “I can tell you one thing, there is a God. I had a five percent chance to live and if it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be here today.”
After his death, many of his former teams took to social media to remember him and his legacy, on and off the ice.
“The entire Penguins organization joins the NHL community in mourning the loss of defenseman Lyle Odelein,” the Penguins wrote via X on Friday. “Lyle played over 1,000 career NHL games for eight teams, and ultimately called Pittsburgh home upon retirement. Our condolences go out to his wife, Laurel, their children and the Odelein family,” the team wrote in an Instagram post.”
The statement continued, “Lyle was known for his tough exterior on the ice, but we will always remember his generous heart and enormous laugh.”
The Columbus Blue Jackets added in their statement that Odelein, the team’s first-ever captain, left an “indelible mark” on the organization.
“On the ice, Lyle was a fierce competitor and Stanley Cup champion,” the club wrote. “Off the ice, he was warm, kind and quick with a smile and kind word. He was a friend to all who knew him and will be sorely missed.”
