TORONTO - A collective feeling of disbelief hung over the hockey world Thursday as players struggled to come to grips with the death of former NHL player Wade Belak.

His body was discovered a day earlier at a hotel and condo building in downtown Toronto. Belak was the third NHL tough guy to die over a span of four months.

The news has raised questions about why the deaths are happening and what can be done to stop it.

"There was a bunch of us actually golfing yesterday and as soon as we found out, you stop right away and think: `This is the third guy already this summer,"' Maple Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn told reporters Thursday at the team's practice facility. "It's hard to grasp and see why it's happening."

The NHL and NHL Players' Association were expected to release a joint statement on Thursday afternoon.

Toronto Police indicated they do not suspect foul play in the death of the 35-year-old Belak.

It was particularly tragic news for those still reeling from the recent deaths of New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard and Winnipeg Jets forward Rick Rypien.

The string of incidents has raised uncomfortable questions about a possible link between the difficult role each man played in the NHL and his untimely death.

Paul Bissonnette, an enforcer with the Phoenix Coyotes, understands why some people have made that connection. He has first-hand experience of how tough the job can be.

"Just playing that very limited role, in and out of the lineup, you feel worthless," said Bissonnette. "I could see where that would probably wear on guys along with the fighting and getting hit in the head constantly.

"The amount of mind games we play with ourselves is very high and that's what people need to realize."

Belak recently retired after spending parts of 14 seasons in the NHL. He was scheduled to work on the Nashville Predators' television and radio broadcasts this coming year and had recently travelled to Toronto to be a contestant on the CBC show "Battle of the Blades."

It seemed like a natural transition for an affable player who rarely found a camera he didn't like.

That friendly demeanour was on display earlier this week when Belak was besieged by members of a youth hockey team while training for the figure skating show at an arena in nearby Mississauga, Ont.

"He was joking, he was happy," said a parent of one of the players. "I didn't sense that anything was odd or off. He wasn't standoffish, he was absolutely open and didn't mind spending the time and just talking for a couple of minutes.

"He was great."

Belak, a Saskatoon native, was a fan favourite during NHL stops in Nashville, Florida, Toronto, Calgary and Colorado. He registered eight goals and 25 assists in 549 career games while amassing 1,263 penalty minutes.

Belak even garnered a following in the United Kingdom after helping the Coventry Blaze win a championship during the NHL lockout. The team plans to honour him before its game on Saturday.

Like Rypien and Boogaard, Belak largely made his living with his fists. He fought 136 times during his NHL career, according to hockeyfights.com.

At least one general manager believes the fact all three men were fighters in the league will prompt some discussion about whether it should still have a place in the sport.

"I'm sure it will have an impact," said Mike Gillis of the Vancouver Canucks. "I'm sure it will create debate. I know in the case of Rick (Rypien), I don't think we ever felt his role and how he played the game was influential in what happened. Perhaps we are wrong.

"We haven't felt that. We didn't feel that before when Rick struggled with some issues and we certainly don't feel that now."

Rypien left the Canucks on two separate occasions while struggling with depression. He was found dead on Aug. 15 at his off-season home in Coleman, Alta., and police said his death was not suspicious.

Boogaard, 28, died May 13 at his Minneapolis apartment due to an accidental mix of alcohol and the painkiller oxycodone.

After news started circulating about Belak's death on Wednesday night, Bissonnette's father stopped by his house to make sure he was OK.

Like Belak, the 26-year-old was a standout defenceman in junior who turned himself into a forward that fights in order to make it to the top as a pro. He acknowledged that it's a little scary to see what's happened to other enforcers this summer.

"I haven't been doing this as long as these guys have, the three guys that passed away," said Bissonnette. "For me to comment on how I'm going to be in five to 10 years, I don't know."