Former Blackhawks Player Jimmy Hayes Dies At 31

MILTON, Mass. (CBS/AP) — Former Blackhawks right wing Jimmy Hayes has died at the age of 31.

Hayes won a national hockey championship at Boston College and played seven seasons in the NHL.

READ MORE: What Will Full FDA Approval Of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Mean For Vaccine Hesitancy, And Mandates, In Chicago?

A law enforcement official said medics on Monday were called to the Hayes home in the Boston suburbs, where he was pronounced dead. No other details were disclosed.

Hayes, a 6-foot-5 right wing, was drafted in the second round (60th overall) in 2008 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Two years later, he helped Boston College to its second straight national title, totaling 13 goals and 22 assists in 42 games as a sophomore.

He made his NHL debut in December 2011 after a trade to the Blackhawks.

“His warm personality made an immediate impact in the locker room and with our fans,” the Blackhawks said in a statement. “We’re proud of the memories he made in Chicago.”

READ MORE: ‘It Does Strengthen You’: South Side Leaders Work To Get More People Vaccinated As Rev. Jesse Jackson Recovers From COVID

Boston College said on Twitter it is “heartbroken” over the death.

Jimmy Hayes played 334 games in the NHL and had 54 goals and 55 assists. He also played for the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils.

He last played professionally in 2019 and had been a cohost of a podcast called “Missin Curfew.”

Younger brother Kevin Hayes is a center for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Hayes was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts. In addition to his wife and children, Hayes is survived by four siblings and his parents, Shelagh and Kevin Hayes Sr.

MORE NEWS: ‘You Hear The Engines Racing’: Residents, City Officials On Curbing Accidents On Chicago’s Torrence Avenue

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)