The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Thursday announced the death of former Penguins defenseman Darcy Robinson. He was 26.
Robinson died while playing for HC Asiago in the Italian Ice Hockey Federation. According to a report on the Asiago team Web site, Robinson was skating during the first period of the team’s season opening game against Renon on Thursday when he fell to the ice without being hit. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. No cause of death was immediately known.
“The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins would like to express our deepest condolences to the entire Robinson family,” said Penguins CEO Jeff Barrett. “Darcy was a fun-loving and friendly member of the team, and was always seen around the rink with a smile on his face. That’s how all Penguins fans will remember him.”
Originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the eighth round (233rd overall) of the 1999 Entry Draft, Robinson appeared in 158 regular-season games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton between 2001-2005, recording 21 points (three goals, 18 assists). The native of Kamloops, B.C., also appeared in seven career postseason AHL games and was a member of the Penguins club that reached the Calder Cup Finals in 2004.
