Former NHL Goalie Ray Emery Dies In Drowning Incident On Lake Ontario

Former NHL goalie Ray Emery drowned Sunday morning while swimming at Hamilton Harbour at Lake Ontario, according to multiple reports. Emery reportedly never emerged after diving into the water near a friend’s boat, and a search for a missing swimmer became a recovery operation Sunday afternoon.

The Hamilton Spectator’s Joanna Frektich reported that a man was presumed to have drowned at the Hamilton Harbour, early Sunday morning. According to the report, the man, who has since been identified as Emery, was with a group of friends when he dove into the water around 6:30 a.m.:

“They went out for a swim and unfortunately he did not emerge after diving in,” said Insp. Marty Schulenberg. “We responded along with Hamilton Fire and EMS. Unfortunately, our efforts on the water and in the area just around the piers were met with negative results.”

Emery was identified as the missing man early Sunday afternoon by photojournalist Andrew Collins, who spoke to “friends and first responders.” Hamilton police later confirmed that the missing man was Emery, in what was described as a case of “misadventure.” Emery’s body was finally recovered later Sunday afternoon:

Emery was drafted in the fourth round in the 2001 NHL Draft, and he suited up for the Ottawa Senators, Atlant Moscow Oblast, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Adler Mannheim over his long hockey career.