Hockey legend passes away unexpectedly

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Cooper Godin
September 3, 2023 (6:00 PM)

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We have some sad news to report on in the hockey world on Sunday afternoon as it's been announced that former Quebec Nordiques draftee and longtime European player Morgan Samuelsson has passed away at the age of 55.

One of Samuelsson's former clubs, ZSC Lions in Switzerland, released a statement regarding the news:

Note: the following quote is translated from German

"It is shocking news that hit Swiss ice hockey shortly before the start of the season. After a long period of suffering, Morgan Samuelsson lost his fight and his heart stopped beating on Sunday night. Samuelsson passed away at home. Far too early � the Swede, who has lived in Switzerland for many years, only turned 55.

With Samuelsson's death, this world not only loses a legendary ice hockey player, but also a happy and kind-hearted person who gave his last shirt for others. Morgan Samuelsson was always an entertaining but also profound conversationalist. When his health was no longer good in the last few years, he endured it bravely and fought. Until his heart gave up on Sunday night." ZSC Lions said in a statement.

Samuelsson was selected in the sixth round, 123rd overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, but never came over to North America.

He spent his entire career in Europe, playing in Sweden for Bodens BK, Lulea HF, Sodertalje SK, AIK; in Germany for Kolner Haie, EC Kassel Huskies, ES Wei�wasser; in Austria for EK Zell am See; and in Switzerland for Thurgau, ZSC Lions and SC Rapperswil-Jona between 1983 and 2002.

After his retirement, he turned his attention to coaching and the management side of hockey, working for teams at different levels in Sweden, Switzerland and Italy.

Our thoughts are with the Samuelsson family at this extremely difficult time.

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