Steve Montador passes away at age 35

[BloodFetish]

Wow, just learned the news. Good people shouldn't die so young. Very tragic.

[Danomite]

RIP Steve Thoughts out to your family, friends and many fans

[Caged Great]

Unbelievable. I am completely shocked.

[Burke Salad]

Absolutely shocked by this news, RIP Steve. This is a great game but I am also a victim of big hits leading to concussions leading to depression. Not sure it can ever be fixed though, the speed and the nature of the game will never be changed.

[Acey]

I watch videos of the '04 run at least once a month, and I always start with his goal vs SJ. I remember running around the house like a crazy person screaming with glee. I had watched it as recently as Friday.

This one hurts.

[VictoryJuice]

RIP Steve

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

I'm taking this pretty hard.

You know its all I am thinking about today.

I was so attached to that 2004 team.

RIP. So sad.

[the_only_turek_fan]

[tvp2003]

Over 500 NHL games as an undrafted free agent. By all accounts a solid guy off the ice as well.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Terribly sad news. I always loved Montador. Kid came out of nowhere and filled in wonderfully for that loved cinderella team in '04.

[calumniate]

RIP this is so sad..

Angered at Matt Cooke today as well because of his antics with montador:
http://www.russianmachineneverbreaks...tt-cooke-hits/

(About half way down). NO suspension, makes me sick

[sureLoss]

More sadness out of this.

via Ference, Montador was going to be or recently became a father
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...ut-being-a-dad

This is what breaks Andrew Ference’s heart.

His most recent chat, in December, with Steve Montador.

Ference listened to the hopeful voice of a close friend, who was thrilled about becoming a father, thrilled about embracing the role of family man, thrilled about his first full year of retirement from the game.

Just plain thrilled was Montador.

Early Sunday morning, however, he died in his Mississauga, Ont., home.

“That’s the part that’s so sad right now,” Ference said. “The last time I talked to him … he was going to be a father, so we talked about him being a parent and stuff like that. He was real excited about being a dad. That’s the part, this morning, that really crushed me – that was the focal point of our conversation.

“He was always so nice to my kids. He was around my kids a lot when we played together. We talked about that a lot – being a parent, being a dad. He was obviously excited to go through that himself.

“That’s a really, really tough one to think about right now.”

[Reggie Dunlop]

Like others have already mentioned, a real tragedy.

Monty was an underdog: Undrafted, had to pay his dues in the minors, then the vagabond existence as a NHL journeyman. Fans like to root for the underdog.

[Machiavelli]

This is horrible, can't believe this new.

RIP Monty.

[CedarMeter]

Very sad to hear this. I know Chris Montador, Steve's brother. Feel horrible for the Montador family. Prayers are with you. Rest In peace Steve.

[CedarMeter]

I remember his goal that he score in the 3rd round of the playoffs. My head hit the ceiling I still think I have a headache because of that goal. Terrible news.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[CedarMeter]

Edit

[JurassicTunga12]

Sad news . Rest in peace, Steve. Condolences to his family.

[foshizzle11]

RIP Steve, you will be missed and always remembered as a big part of the team here in Calgary. It makes this even tougher that he was going to be a father and his child will never know their dad.

Very sad day.