Myles O'Connor, former NHL player and Calgary retail leader, dies suddenly at 59

Myles O'Connor, a former NHL player who became one of Calgary's most prominent retail figures, has died suddenly at age 59. The Colorado Avalanche announced his death Thursday.

O'Connor played in the NHL between 1990 and 1994 for the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks (then the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim). He was drafted in the third round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by New Jersey. After his hockey career, he returned to Calgary and joined the family business, eventually taking over and significantly expanding O'Connors stores at Victoria Crossing, which now spans 12,000 square feet and ranks among the largest independent retailers in Canada.

His son, Logan O'Connor, plays for the Colorado Avalanche and won a Stanley Cup with the team in 2022. Logan is taking time away from the ice to be with family. The cause of death has not been revealed.

The NHL Alumni Association released a statement: "We are devastated to learn that Myles O'Connor has passed away at the age of 59." In 2004, O'Connor spoke on a panel about young athletes, emphasizing the importance of parental guidance: "As a parent, you need to push them in the right direction and have the smarts enough to realize what's best for him down the road."