Jimmy Hayes’ story of a Boston-born star who went on to play for the Bruins in his NHL career met a tragic end back in August. Over the weekend, Hayes’ family revealed that fentanyl contributed to the death of the 31-year-old former NHL and Boston College star.
Hayes’ parents spoke to the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy regarding the circumstances of their son’s death, saying that the family learned on Friday that the cause of death was “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine.”
The Massachusetts State Medical Examiner’s office later confirmed the report in a statement.
Hayes’ death came as a shock to the family and the community. Hayes was born in Boston, won an NCAA championship at Boston College and went on to have a seven-year career in the NHL, including two seasons in the Bruins. With his playing days over, Hayes had settled down in Milton with his wife and two children.
“I was completely shocked,’’ Kristen Hayes, Jimmy’s wife, told the Globe. “I was so certain that it had nothing to do with drugs. I really thought it was a heart attack or anything that wasn’t that (drugs) … It didn’t make any sense, so it was hard. I was hoping to get a different phone call when they called. I was hoping to get some clarity and I was shocked to hear that it was that … He never showed any signs of a struggle at home.’’
However, Kevin Hayes told the Globe that his son had opened up about substance abuse, admitting that he had a problem.
“He called me three weeks later and said, ‘Dad, I’m hooked on these pills. I got injured and I started taking them and I never got off,’” Kevin Hayes said. “And I said, ‘Well, let’s get you some help.’ He went to a place up in Haverhill. So he gets help and everything was on the path to recovery, I thought. But this (expletive) is so powerful.’’
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