Former NHLer Dave Gove Found Dead at Rehab Center of Suspected Heroin Overdose

Former NHL center Dave Gove was found dead at a Pittsburgh rehabilitation center on Wednesday of what appears to be a heroin overdose, according to Pittsburgh’s KDKA-TV. Gove, 38, was found at the rehab center Bethlehem Haven, and multiple unnamed sources told KDKA-TV that there were bags of heroin near Gove’s body.

Gove played on the Stanley Cup-winning 2006 Carolina Hurricanes. He was later traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and played two seasons with the AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, retiring after the 2008-09 season. More recently, he was head coach of the Penguins’ ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers for several months last year until taking an unexplained leave of absence in April.

Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford released a statement on Friday: “The Pittsburgh Penguins organization is saddened by the passing of Dave Gove. Dave touched many lives in the hockey world as both a player and coach. We express our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.”