Mile High Sports

Former Avalanche winger Marek Svatos passes away at 34

MHS Staff

Former Colorado Avalanche winger Marek Svatos passed away on Saturday in Lone Tree, according to multiple reports. Svatos was 34.

The Košice, Czechoslovakia native played parts of seven seasons in the NHL, six with Colorado.

Svatos burst on the scene for Colorado in the 2004 playoffs, scoring a goal and tallying five assists as the Avalanche advanced to the second round. During the lockout season of 2004-05 he remained with the franchise, playing for the Hershey Bears.

Svatos finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting in his true rookie season, 2005-06, when he tallied a career high 32 goals and 50 points. He scored 96 regular season goals in his Avalanche career.

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General manager Joe Sakic issued the following statement on Sunday:

“The entire Avalanche organization is extremely saddened by this news. Marek was a tremendous person, a talented hockey player and a great teammate. Our thoughts, prayers and our deepest sympathy to his wife, children and his entire family.”

Svatos’ time in Denver ended when injuries limited him to 54 games in 2009-10. He spent a short time in the KHL before returning to the NHL for brief stints in Nashville and Ottawa. His last run in the NHL ended being cut by the Panthers before returning to Europe for two seasons. He officially ended his professional career with Slovakian club HC Kosice in 2013-14.

Avalanche fan club Eurolanche is reporting that Svatos’ death was an accident, per a family source. They are also citing Slovakian news reports that the death was a drug overdose.

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