(CNN) Former NHL goaltender Ray Emery was found dead Sunday in the harbor in Hamilton, Ontario, hours after he disappeared while swimming, police said. He was 35. Hamilton police tweeted that they recovered his body about 2:50 p.m. He was last seen in Lake Ontario's Hamilton Harbor about 6 a.m., when police responded to reports of a possible drowning. "Cause of death will be confirmed pending a post-mortem," said Jackie Penman of Hamilton police in a statement. Fans and former teammates expressed sadness on Twitter. Read More<doc-sep>Former NHL goaltender Ray Emery, who helped the Ottawa Senators reach the final in 2007 and won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013, has drowned in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. He was 35. Hamilton Police said Emery was identified as the victim of a swimming accident on Sunday morning. Staff sergeant Paul Evans said police received a call just after 6am that an adult swimmer did not surface and that the Niagara Police assisted in the recovery effort. A cause of death will be confirmed after a post-mortem. Nicknamed “Razor” for his aggressive style, Emery played parts of 11 seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks from 2003-2015. He helped the Senators reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2007 and won it as a backup with the Blackhawks in 2013. “Ray was an outstanding teammate and an extremely gifted goaltender,” Flyers president Paul Holmgren said. “Ray’s talent, work ethic and determination helped him enjoy a successful 11-year NHL career.” Emery battled avascular necrosis, the same serious hip ailment that ended two-sport star Bo Jackson’s career. He and fellow Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford combined to win the William Jennings Trophy for allowing the league’s fewest goals during the lockout-shortened 2013 season. “The Blackhawks will fondly remember Ray as a fierce competitor, a good teammate and a Stanley Cup champion,” the team said in a statement. Emery played in 326 NHL regular-season and playoff games. He went 145-86-28 with a 2.70 goals-against average and 16 shutouts during his career. I will always remember Ray as a good person first & foremost. I envied his demeanor. He had a contagious personality. People were drawn to him. I made close friendships bc of him @DaveBolland I will never forget his selflessness. Man this hurts. Rest easy Uncle Ray Ray pic.twitter.com/hWsl9SNVwE — Daniel Carcillo (@CarBombBoom13) July 15, 2018 Throughout his career, Emery dealt with off-ice problems, including an incident of road rage, assault of a trainer in Russia and behavior that led to him being sent home from Ottawa’s training camp. “Ray had many highs and lows in his personal life and his career,” his longtime agent, JP Barry, said. “He never let things that would derail most of us stop his forward momentum. He had a big heart and a fun loving personality. He was someone we all rooted for to succeed.” Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, who knew Emery from junior hockey, echoed that sentiment of rooting for him to succeed through his ups and downs. Dubas said Emery’s “smile and intelligence made him a magnetic personality.” Emery played in a charity hockey game on Saturday night in Hamilton. After word of his death spread, condolences poured out from the hockey community. “I will always remember Ray as a good person first & foremost,” friend and former teammate Dan Carcillo wrote on Twitter. “I envied his demeanor. He had a contagious personality. People were drawn to him. ... I will never forget his selflessness. Man this hurts. Rest easy Uncle Ray Ray.” Former teammates lauded Emery’s mentorship and leadership, especially in his final professional season in the AHL in 2015-16. Enforcer-turned-analyst Paul Bissonnette, a teammate with the AHL’s Ontario Reign, said Emery would treat other players to dinner almost every night. “I’d heard nothing but great things before meeting him and it was true,” Bissonnette said. “He was awesome. Great in the locker room and just made life enjoyable.”<doc-sep>
Former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Ray Emery died Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario. He was 35. At 2:50 pm, HPS recovered the body of former @NHL player Ray Emery, 35. Emery was reported missing just after 6:00 am in #HamOnt harbour. His body was recovered in close proximity to where he was last seen. Family has been notified. Cause of death to be confirmed pending a PM. — Hamilton Police (@HamiltonPolice) July 15, 2018 Emery joined the Blackhawks on a tryout contract in July 2011 before earning a one-year deal in October. He posted a 15-9-4 record, including a 10-0-3 mark at home, with a 2.81 goals-against average in 34 regular-season games. The Hawks signed him to a one-year extension after the season. Emery showed why he deserved the $1.15 million deal early with an NHL-record 12 straight wins to start the 2013 season. By the season’s end, Emery had 17 wins and a 1.94 GAA. Emery and fellow netminder Corey Crawford combined to post the best GAA in the NHL to win the William M. Jennings Trophy. The duo would help Chicago win their second Stanley Cup in three seasons against Boston. Emery’s most memorable Hawks performance was a Feb. 2, 2013, victory in Calgary, when he made 45 saves and stopped all three Flames shootout attempts. Chicago didn’t re-sign Emery, and he inked a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers. He played two seasons in Philadelphia before brief stints with in the AHL with the Ontario Reign and Toronto Marlies. He finished his career with Adler Mannheim in Germany’s DEL. Emery was drafted by the Ottawa Senators with the No. 99 overall pick in the 2001 NHL draft. He played in 287 career NHL games with Ottawa (2002-08), Philadelphia (2009-10, 13-15), Anaheim (2010-11) and Chicago (2011-13).