Hockey forward played in the NHL for 14 seasons

GAETAN DUCHESNE: 1962-2007

QUEBEC -- Gaetan Duchesne, who played in the NHL for 14 seasonsand helped the Minnesota North Stars reach the 1991 Stanley Cupfinal, died while training at a gym Monday. He was 44.

Mr. Duchesne collapsed and could not be resuscitated, said hisformer junior team, the Quebec Remparts. The cause of death was notknown.

Mr. Duchesne played for five NHL teams -- Washington, Quebec,Minnesota, San Jose and Florida -- and retired after the 1994-95season. The forward appeared in 1,028 NHL games, totaling 179 goalsand 254 assists. He was in 84 playoff games.

Mr. Duchesne, born in Quebec, was an eighth-round draft pick ofthe Capitals in 1981 and made the NHL club out of his first trainingcamp. After six seasons with Washington, he was traded to theNordiques with Alan Haworth and a first-round draft pick -- thatturned out to be Joe Sakic -- for Dale Hunter and goalie ClintMalarchuk.

After helping Minnesota advance to the Stanley Cup final, wherethe North Stars lost to Pittsburgh in six games, he finished hiscareer with the Sharks and Panthers.

Mr. Duchesne later worked as an assistant coach with the defunctQuebec Rafales of the IHL and the Remparts of the Quebec MajorJunior Hockey League.

Mr. Duchesne is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son,Jeremy, who is a goaltender with the Val d'Or Foreurs of the QMJHL.