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An official with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed Rypien's death on Monday, and said it wasn't suspicious.
Rypien is the second active NHL player found dead this offseason. Former New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died in May due to an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone.
Rypien, 27, signed a $700,000, one-year deal with Winnipeg last month after spending parts of six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. He had nine goals and seven assists in 119 career NHL games.
"As many people are aware, he had strong ties to True North Sports & Entertainment, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, the former Manitoba Moose Hockey Club and the Vancouver Canucks," the Jets said in a statment. "We would like to express our sincere sympathies to the Rypien family as well as Rick's friends. We also appreciate all of the support that has come pouring in from Rick's fans. Rick was a talented player with an extremely bright future. His hunger for the game made him a valued team member both on and off the ice. This loss has impacted us as more than just a hockey team."
Rypien, the cousin of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, was granted an indefinite leave of absence last season to deal with an undisclosed person matter.
The leave was granted after he was suspended for six games for a physical altercation with a Minnesota Wild fan in October while with the Canucks.
Rypien is the second active NHL player found dead this offseason. Former New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died in May due to an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone.
Rypien, 27, signed a $700,000, one-year deal with Winnipeg last month after spending parts of six seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. He had nine goals and seven assists in 119 career NHL games.
"As many people are aware, he had strong ties to True North Sports & Entertainment, the Winnipeg Jets Hockey Club, the former Manitoba Moose Hockey Club and the Vancouver Canucks," the Jets said in a statment. "We would like to express our sincere sympathies to the Rypien family as well as Rick's friends. We also appreciate all of the support that has come pouring in from Rick's fans. Rick was a talented player with an extremely bright future. His hunger for the game made him a valued team member both on and off the ice. This loss has impacted us as more than just a hockey team."
Rypien, the cousin of former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien, was granted an indefinite leave of absence last season to deal with an undisclosed person matter.
The leave was granted after he was suspended for six games for a physical altercation with a Minnesota Wild fan in October while with the Canucks.
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