Matthew Spezza Obituary: The younger brother of former NHL player Jason Spezza, Matthew Spezza, passed away, a tragic turn of events for the Spezza family. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced the tragic news on behalf of Jason, their deputy general manager, that Matthew, 37, had died from an accidental overdose.
Matthew Spezza Obituary
In a statement issued through the Penguins’ official account, veteran NHL player Jason Spezza—who played for the Ottawa Senators, Dallas Stars, and Toronto Maple Leafs throughout his 20-year career—expressed his family’s deep sorrow.
I would want to inform you, on behalf of my family, that over the weekend, my younger brother Matthew unexpectedly overdosed and passed away. Jason Spezza said, “My family and I are devastated and respectfully want privacy during this trying time.
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Who was Matthew Spezza?
Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Matthew Spezza aspired to play goalie hockey. He didn’t make it to the NHL, but he did show off his abilities playing for clubs like the Kingston Frontenacs, Ottawa 67’s, London Knights, and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a prominent junior hockey league. He also participated in hockey with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s St. John’s Fog Devils. Additionally, Matthew played a brief season of minor league hockey, wearing the Flint Generals’ uniform in the IHL in 2008–09.
Statement from Jason Spezza on the passing of his brother Matthew. pic.twitter.com/h8SYY1rkWT
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 5, 2024
Hockey was a common interest between the Spezza brothers, with Matthew frequently providing Jason with encouragement during his OHL career with the Brampton Battalion and Mississauga IceDogs in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Matthew Spezza’s death has compounded the grief felt by the hockey community in the wake of the news that Scott Page, the first captain in Mississauga IceDogs history, had also passed away. Jason Spezza’s teammate from the 1999–2000 season, 44-year-old Scott Page, just departed.
The reason for Matthew’s unintentional overdose throws a melancholy shadow over the memories of the goalkeeper who, although not making it to the NHL, made an enduring impression on the hockey community, even as the Spezza family struggles through this devastating loss.
