Per Mårs, the founder of skate company Marsblade and former professional hockey player, has died at age 43, according to reports from Swedish media. The death was confirmed by his family, as reported by Östersunds-Posten and Gefle Dagblad.
Mårs was a promising hockey talent who was drafted by the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets in the third round at age 19. However, his professional career was cut short by back problems that forced him to retire at just 22 years old.
a good guy who trained extremely hard
After his playing career ended, Mårs founded Marsblade, a company specializing in hockey skates. He had previously played forward for Brynäs IF in the early 2000s, where he spent three seasons after joining the club as a junior from Östersund.
Former teammate Tommy Sjödin remembered Mårs as "a good guy who trained extremely hard," according to Gefle Dagblad. The exact circumstances of his death were not immediately disclosed in the reports.