Longtime NHL hockey player Chris Simon dead at 52

The NHL Alumni Association announced Tuesday that longtime NHL hockey player Chris Simon, famous for his fights on the Islanders and Rangers teams, died Monday night at age 52.

No cause of death was available for Simon, who was involved in 101 fights and 1,824 penalty minutes over his 782 NHL games from 1992-2008 and won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 1996.

He was suspended for 25 games over two seasons in 2007 and 2008 as an Islander for hitting Rangers forward Ryan Hollweg with his stick that he held with both hands.

He was also suspended for 30 games for stomping on Jarkko Ruutu's leg, also in 2007.

He scored 72 goals in 320 games.

"The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Chris Simon, who played in more than 800 NHL games over 15 seasons," the league said. "A fierce competitor and teammate, Simon won the Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996 and reached the 1998 Stanley Cup Final with Washington as well as the 2004 Stanley Cup Final with Calgary."