Peter Zezel dies
Former Flyer Peter Zezel died today at the age of 44.
Peter Zezel dies
Rich Hofmann, Daily News Sports Columnist
Terrible news out of Toronto: Former Flyer Peter Zezel has died in a hospital as a result of a rare blood disorder.
Multiple reports indicate that Zezel had fought the disorder, hemolytic anemia, for the last decade, but that he was thought to be coping well in recent years. His family made the decision to turn off life support this afternoon.
Zezel was drafted by the Flyers in 1983 and was a very popular player, especially among the females in the stands, when he played here from 1984 to 1989. In that time, he and his young teammates made two trips to the Stanley Cup finals under coach Mike Keenan. He was one of the faces of that popular young group that never was quite able to knock down the door.
The end of Zezel's career told you something about the man. He was in Vancouver and requested a deadline trade to the East so that he could be near a young niece who was dying of cancer. Instead, he was traded to Anaheim and promptly retired.
Now, this. Zezel was only 44 years old.
Man, it's really sad. What can't his family give him a chance to pull through yet has to pull a plug? Man, I feel terrible for him. May God give him peace.— Robert88- Responsed to iamnot THATking: Oh, leave Eric Lindo alone. He's still a good player and you don't like him, then that's YOUR PROBLEM.— Robert88
How sad, truly sad this news is. My prayers go out to the family.— delcodanno- Sad very sad.Read earlier that he was in a coma. Now to hear this it just stops the presses. He will surely be missed by all of Philly Hockey fans. Me included. Goodbye Peter may God bless you and your family.— Bubba
- "Suddenly, you were gone From all the lives you left your mark upon" -Rush From a Flyers fan in the mid-1980's, the news of Peter Zezel's passing hits just as hard as Pelle Lindbergh's death did back in 1985. Back then, Zezel was one of the many young catalysts for those great Flyers teams that won three straight Patrick Division titles and went to the 1985 and 1987 Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers. It was P.Z. that started the play that resulted in J.J. Daigneault's goal that turned the Spectrum into an earthquake in Game 6 against the Oilers in '87 and forced an improbable Game 7. Zezel wasn't the biggest player on the ice, but like many of the teams he played on in his career, he played with enormous heart, and he was pretty good as a playmaker and a two-way forward. The Flyers organization and the hockey world is worse off today for this loss. R.I.P. # 25! Say, “Hi” to Pelle for me!— sonnycrockett
Comment removed.- RIP Peter. My thoughts and prayers are with his family!— dankil13
Yo, philly.com! The pic you show sure appears to be Rick Tocchet, not Peter Zezel. Nevertheless, God bless Peter!— Nihilist
It's a sad day in our house to hear of Peter Zezel's passing. He was a Flyer. Period.- Travel on Pete, you'll be missed.— Augs
- Such terribly sad news! My thoughts and prayers are with his family. As much fun as he was to watch play hockey (i can still see him circling before faceoffs), the story about his retirement speaks to him as a person. He retired to be with his dying niece, Jill, rather than extend his NHL career. Nothing is more important than family and Peter proved this was how he felt. His love of children was also shown in the charitable work he did and the camps he ran. Thanks, Peter - you will be greatly missed.— flyerfan25
- Condolences to his family. He was the epitome of a Flyer in '85-'87, all youth, grit and high hopes.....— Ticogringomike
- God rest his soul, what quality man we lost.— steveo
- He was one the boys from my favorite era of Flyers hockey and will be missed. Female Flyers fans from the 80s everywhere are sighing in sorrow. Rest in peace, Peter Zezel.— edf
- Godspeed Mr.Zezel, you were a class act. R.I.P.— andymag31
