Former Avalanche player Marek Svatos died of combined drug overdose

The Douglas County Coroner’s Office on Monday released a report on Svatos’ death, which occurred Nov. 5 at his home in Lone Tree.
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Colorado Avalanche Marek Svatos, #40, tries to keep the puck in the visitor’s zone against San Jose Sharks Vincent Bamphousse, #25, and Mike Rathje, #2, in the third period of the Shark’s 1-0 victory in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal playoff series in the NHL’s 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs in Denver at the Pepsi Center on April 26, 2004. (Denver Public Library/Joe Mahoney/Rocky Mountain News/RMN-020-4206 )

Former Avalanche player Marek Svatos died of a combined drug overdose, according to a report. (Denver Public Library/Joe Mahoney/Rocky Mountain News/RMN-020-4206 )

Former Colorado Avalanche player Marek Svatos died of  a combined drug overdose that included codeine, morphine and the anti-anxiety medication Xanax in November.

The Douglas County Coroner's Office on Monday released a report on Svatos' death, which occurred Nov. 5 at his home in Lone Tree.

The report indicated that Svatos dealt with heroine addiction prior to overdosing and had underwent drug rehabilitation.

Svatos, who was from Kosice, Slovakia, played for the Avalanche from 2003-10. He dealt with a variety of injuries in his time with Colorado and never appeared in more than 32 regular-season games with the club.

He was 34 years old.

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