Peter Zezel (1965-2009)

by James Mirtle on May 26, 2009 6:02 PM CDT in Obituaries Comment 13 comments

Zezel_medium

Peter Zezel became known as an effective checker late in his career, but he wasn't always so. In fact, the star junior with the OHL's Toronto Marlboros was picked in the second round by the Flyers in 1983 and put up 133 points in junior the very next season.

A year after that, he stepped into the NHL and had six consecutive seasons with between 54 and 72 points. He ultimately became pretty well travelled, playing with seven different teams in his career, and as a result I imagine fan bases all over the NHL are in mourning today after his death at the age of 44.

Zezel had suffered from a rare blood disorder since 2001, and medication he took to combat the illness caused considerable weight gain. Even so, he was often in the public eye, and I recall seeing him on TSN's Off The Record a handful of times the past few seasons.

His death has made a big impact here in Toronto, where he was from and where he played for the Leafs between 1990-94 when they had some of their strongest clubs in the past few decades. He also played for the Flyers, Blues, Capitals, Stars, Devils and Canucks.

Me, I mostly remember him from his stop in Vancouver, when he came in for 66 games at the tail end of his career in the true dog days of that franchise and put up 31 points in his final two seasons. He was a Mike Keenan favourite, a faceoff specialist who worked hard and was popular among his teammates.

"The hockey community has suffered a great loss today," said NHLPA director of player affairs Glenn Healy. "Peter was a friend and a great family man who was well liked by everyone he crossed paths with in our game. Our thoughts are with Peter's family and many friends during this difficult time."

My condolences to his family.

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It was far too soon… a good player, a great person….

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Caps on May 26, 2009 6:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It is rather amazing that he had managed to battle this blood disorder for ten years, then suddenly it took him. Very sad loss.

by Resolute on May 26, 2009 6:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So sorry to hear this. Saw the news of his affliction earlier today but didn’t imagine it would travel this path, so quickly.

My prayers to his family and friends.

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by Whale4ever on May 26, 2009 7:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He didn’t spend a whole lot of time there, but when I think of Peter Zezel, I think of him in the bright blue and yellow uniform of the St. Louis Blues, playing with Brett Hull.

by Costa24 on May 26, 2009 9:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I went to his camp. He was tough on us – but that’s what he was there for.

He made us skate lines, but a more intense version than we were ever accustomed to. Goalline-blueline, goalline-redline, goalline-(far)bluelline, goalline-goalline, goalline-(around the far net)blueline, goalline-(around the far net)redline, goalline-(around the far net(far)blueline, goalline-(around the far net)goalline and back.

Anyone who’s skated lines knows that the first half of that drill is taxing enough. He never stood for guys who did wide turns or who glided, either.

From that day on, coaches in the Yorkton, Saskatchewan continued to use that drill as punishment. It was forever known as the Zezel.

by wlittle on May 27, 2009 9:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Rare blood disorder. Any word what it was??? There are rumours floating around that we won’t repeat here, but if any one has seen a published report stating what this blood issue that took a man still relatively young, it would help dispel those scurrilous speculators

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on May 27, 2009 9:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What rumors? It’s been reported in many places that he suffered from hemolytic anemia, a type of disorder where a person’s red blood cells breakdown too quickly. There were some pictures of him running his camp from a few years ago where he was really puffy — likely from taking steroids (a common therapy for this).

It doesn’t take much to dispel rumors if you just do a little bit of research.

by RCheli on May 27, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I concur, Doctor

What rumours, indeed?

Hepatitis? AIDS? Like I said, IANAD.

by TD O'Dell on May 27, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

IANAD, but

I believe it was called Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia.

Sounds redundant to me, but I haven’t seen an episode of ER in months, so I’m out of practice.

I did see an old rerun of Third Watch recently that featured a case of food poisoning from tainted meat, which was described as Listeria. I don’t know if Michael McCain saw that when it first aired, but a search of his TiVo could help in the class-action suit.

by TD O'Dell on May 27, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some people with HIV/AIDS do get one type of hemolytic anemia, but people with HIV/AIDS also get pneumonia and I don’t think anyone can or should make that leap — if that’s the type of rumor you’re referring to.

Zezel was a pretty good player — a nice two-way forward who always played with a ton of heart and was willing to to the things on the ice to win games. I loved watching him with the Leafs — and dreaded it when he was with the Flyers. Isn’t that enough?

by RCheli on May 27, 2009 10:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We have read some of the things you referred there. It won’t stop the idiots from blogging such nonsense, but such is life on the net.

I find sometimes it's easy to be myself
sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else

by Fauxrumors on May 27, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does it matter?

He died. Much too young. Can’t we leave it at that?

by garth the hoser on May 27, 2009 10:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Old Friend

Well—I know its been a couple of months now and I wasn’t sure for a long time if I was going to leave any messages about Peter—but time has passed and a good friend today-reminded me of an old memory-which made me laugh and think of Peter-from the Philly days-so these are my thoughts on a great guy who was a good hockey player and always wanted to be his best. Even though Peter’s career was a bit of a roller coaster with triumphs, set backs, injuries, and trades—I was proud of him and I will miss my ole-friend from back in the day. In his younger days when he first started out with the Flyers he was young, shy, and really didn’t like the spot-light a whole lot but wanted to prove himself as being s good as the veterans. He went along with whatever the club needed him to do, and was eager to please. After awhile-he kinda got used to all the attention and just kept pushing himself. He really loved this sport-with so much passion and determination. He was also compassionate and a giver. Over the years, his body just didn’t cooperate with his desire to play the way he wanted to, like so many other athletes. We were lucky to have gotten an opportunity to watch him play and enjoy his company whle he was here.

Missy

by mwest on Aug 4, 2009 8:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs