Former Flyers star Pete Zezel dies at 44

PHILADELPHIA, May 27 (UPI) -- Former Philadelphia Flyers star center Peter Zezel had died after a 10-year battle with hemolytic anemia, a rare and serious blood disease.

CSNPhilly.com said Zezel, 44, lapsed into a coma last week and was taken off life support Tuesday.

Philadelphia's first-round pick (No. 41 overall) in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft compiled 608 points (219 goals, 389 assists) in 873 NHL games with Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington, Toronto, Dallas, New Jersey and Vancouver.

"What a lot of people don't know is that Peter never said 'no' to someone wanting his autograph or anything someone wanted," former teammate and Tampa Bay Hurricanes Coach Rick Tocchet told the Web site. "Can you go to a school or a hospital? He'd do it. He was pretty special when it came to that."

In 1984, his rookie season, Zezel, a Toronto native, scored 61 points (15 goals, 46 assists) while helping the Flyers advance to the Stanley Cup Final.