Eugene Melnyk, the founder of the Biovail pharmaceutical company and owner of the Ottawa Senators NHL hockey team, has died at age 62.
The cause of death was not made public. However, in 2015, Melnyk had a liver transplant and was reportedly days away from death before a donor was found.
Melnyk, a Toronto native, has owned the Ottawa Senators since 2003. In 2007, Ottawa reached the Stanley Cup final before losing in five games to the Anaheim Ducks.
Melnyk purchased the Senators and the Canadian Tire Centre stadium for $130 million U.S. after reaching a deal with creditors. He also was a former owner of the St. Michael’s Majors of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
The Senators appeared in the NHL playoffs nine times during Melnyk's ownership. But Ottawa hasn't reached the post-season since 2017 when it lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference final.
Melnyk was also the founder and former chairman of Biovail, once Canada's largest pharmaceutical company. More recently, he was chairman and chief executive of Neurolign, a fledgling medical device company.
Melnyk was also a successful thoroughbred race horse breeder, twice being named Canada's top owner. His horses won all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown. Melnyk was inducted into the Canadian Hose Racing Hall of Fame in 2017.
With Melnyk's assistance, the Senators Community Foundation invested over $100 million to support local charities and community programs across the Ottawa region.
