Former NHL star Jimmy Hayes has died suddenly at his home, aged 31.
Hayes - a married father of two - was pronounced dead at the scene of the property in Milton, a suburb of Boston, after emergency responders were called on Monday morning.
No further information on his cause of death has been released, but a law enforcement official said it was not being treated as suspicious.
Hayes - best known for his two years with the Boston Bruins - had been celebrating his son Beau's birthday with his wife Kristen on Sunday.
Kristen shared an Instagram post around midnight showing them playing arcade games.
There is no indication Hayes had been ill in the hours before he passed away.
The 6'5", 15-stone right winer played 334 games in the NHL for four teams including the Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils.
He was drafted 60th overall by Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008 and made his NHL bow for the Blackhawks three years later.
His most productive spell came in Florida where he scored 19 goals and chalked up 16 assists in 72 games.
After three years with the Panthers, he moved to his boyhood team Boston and added 15 goals and 18 assists in 133 games.
He amassed a total of 54 goals and 109 points during his NHL career and retired in 2019 after stints with Binghamton Devils and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL.
Hayes co-hosted a podcast following his retirement with fellow ex-NHL stars Shane O'Brien and Scottie Upshall named 'Missin Curfew'.
His last appearance was on August 5.
The Bruins posted on Twitter : "The Boston Bruins are heartbroken by the passing of Dorchester native and former Bruin Jimmy Hayes.
"Our thoughts are with his wife Kristen, his sons Beau and Mac, and the entire Hayes family during this very difficult time."
