Source: Belak hanged himself

TORONTO - Former NHL player Wade Belak hanged himself, according to a person familiar with the case.

Belak, an enforcer who had played with five NHL teams before retiring in March, was found dead Wednesday in Toronto. He was 35.

The person familiar with Belak's death said he hanged himself at a downtown luxury hotel and condo building. The person spoke Thursday to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the investigation were confidential.

"At this point, it's non-suspicious," Toronto police spokesman Tony Vella said. "We will not provide any further information on a non-suspicious case."

Belak is the third NHL enforcer found dead since May.

The body of 27-year-old Rick Rypien of the Winnipeg Jets was discovered earlier this month at his home in Alberta after a police official said a call was answered for a "sudden and non-suspicious" death. Former New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died in May at 28 from an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Don Fehr, executive director of the NHL Players Association, issued a joint statement Thursday afternoon saying that while each case is unique, the "tragic events cannot be ignored." They pledged to review the league's substance-abuse and behavioral-health programs.

Belak's wife, Jennifer, released a statement Thursday night through the Nashville Predators, saying her husband "was a big man with an even bigger heart."

"This loss leaves a huge hole in our lives, and, as we move forward, we ask that everyone remember Wade's infectious sense of humor, his caring spirit, and the joy he brought to his friends, family, and fans."

Private services will be held Sunday in Nashville.