Former NHLer Jason Cirone passes away at 53-years-old
Former National Hockey League forward Jason Cirone has passed away at 53-years-old.
We have some sad news to pass along in the hockey world on Wednesday night as former Winnipeg Jets forward and long-time member of the Italian national team, Jason Cirone, has passed away at the age of 53 following a battle with cancer.
After a strong showing during the 1988-89 OHL season with the Cornwall Royals where he scored 39 goals in 64 games, Circone was selected in the third round, 46th overall, by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.
Cirone made his way to the National Hockey League during the 1991-92 season, appearing in three games for the Winnipeg Jets, registering no points. He would go on to spend the majority of the year in the AHL with the Moncton Hawks.
Eight of his Cirone's first nine seasons in professional hockey were here in the minor leagues across North America before he headed to Europe, spending six years, the majority of which were with Asiago in Italy.
While in Europe, Cirone was able to play for the Italian national team by holding a passport from the country and appeared in four World Championships - three in the top division, as well as the 2006 Winter Olympics on home ice in Turin. Cirone's lone goal of the 2006 Winter Olympics came in the opening game of the tournament. His tally on Martin Brodeur tied the game early in the second period against Canada, however Italy would go on to lose the contest by a score of 7 to 2.
The thoughts of everyone here at Blade of Steel are with Cirone's family, friends and former teammates at this difficult time.
