Longtime agent Rick Curran confirmed Marchment’s death to The Associated Press. Marchment attended the NHL draft in Montreal as a scout for the San Jose Sharks. The cause of death was not immediately known. “It’s a sad day for me personally, a very sad day for our organization,” said Mike Grier, who was named the Sharks’ general manager on Tuesday. “He meant a lot to a lot of people in our organization, our players, our staff – anyone who knew Brian, the type of person he was. “He was just an honest, down-to-earth, loving person who cared about everyone. He had time for everyone in the building. Anyone he met, he had time.” Marchment played parts of 17 NHL seasons from 1989-2006 with Winnipeg, Chicago, Hartford, Edmonton, Tampa Bay, San Jose, Colorado, Toronto and Calgary. The NHL and NHL Alumni Association offered their condolences in statements released Wednesday afternoon. News of Marchment’s death reached the GMs while they were attending their annual draft meeting. “Just shocking and devastating news,” said Chuck Fletcher of Philadelphia. “Too young. Obviously, you’re thinking of his family and friends right now.” Grier played with Marchment with the Oilers and said Marchment was quick to treat him with respect and make him feel at home. He would want us to get back to work and do our best and have the best draft possible.— Sharks general manager Mike Grier on the late Bryan Marchment “If I ever needed anything, whether it was a home-cooked dinner instead of eating out every day, he and [wife] Kim would have me on me,” Grier said. “Well, it’s a very difficult day.” Grier praised Marchment as a hard worker and said members of San Jose’s staff will continue their draft responsibilities with heavy hearts. “I gave them some time to regroup and have some time to themselves and process and grieve,” he said. “I know ‘Mush’ — that’s what he’d say. He’d want us to get back to work and do our best and have the best draft possible, so we’ll get back to work.” The Toronto native had worked in scouting and other roles for the Sharks and their American Hockey League affiliate since 2007.
13 suspensions in first 12 seasons
Marchment was known for playing with an edge, and sometimes he got over it. He is 31st overall in NHL career penalty minutes with 2,307. He was kicked out of the league 13 times in his first 12 NHL seasons. Maple Leafs forward Mike Gartner suffered a partially collapsed lung in a collision with Marchment and then the Oilers during a 1996 game in Edmonton. Gartner had to return to Toronto by train because changes in air pressure could damage his lungs. According to a New York Times article after the game, Marchment said his success at Gartner was “payback time” for an earlier match. Some tributes on social media after news of his death broke described Marchment’s softer side off the ice. Christina Marleau, wife of longtime Sharks captain Patrick Marleau, posted that Marchment had introduced the couple “and would remind us of that every time we saw him.” “The world really lost a good man today,” he said. Marchment is survived by his wife Kim, son Mason, a forward with the Florida Panthers, and daughter Logan.
