Former Blues forward Zezel dies at 44

TORONTO -- Peter Zezel, a center who played 15 NHL seasons after breaking into the league with the Philadelphia Flyers as a teenager, has died. He was 44.

Zezel struggled with the rare blood disease hemolytic anemia for the past 10 years. He died Tuesday. Zezel suffered from the ailment off and on, but had rebounded after being in critical condition in 2001.

Zezel was admitted to the hospital last week for scheduled surgery, but complications developed and his conditioned worsened.

The gritty center was known on the ice for his strong two-way game. In 873 NHL games with Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington, Toronto, Dallas, New Jersey and Vancouver, Zezel had 219 goals and 389 assists.

His matinee idol looks also earned him a small role in the 1986 hockey-based movie "Youngblood" that starred Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze.

-- AP