Senators, Stuetzle pay tribute to late Canadian icon Alex Trebek

The Ottawa Senators are mourning the loss of Canadian icon and longtime "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek, who passed away from pancreatic cancer Sunday at the age of 80.

"Alex was a true and much beloved Canadian icon, and a very special member of the Ottawa Senators family," Senators owner Eugene Melnyk said in a statement.

"We will always be grateful to Alex for the special role he played in announcing the Senators' first draft choice this year. For his legions of fans, Alex's class and professionalism will endure as will his love for our game. Thank you, Alex, for your legacy. The Senators family and the entire Capital Region will miss you."

Trebek revealed in March 2019 he had been battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

The Sudbury, Ontario native is a University of Ottawa alumnus. Trebek made a special appearance at the NHL Draft in October to announce forward Tim Stuetzle as the Senators' first-round selection.

The German winger also paid tribute Sunday, posting the video of Trebek drafting him with a special message attached.

"I am deeply sorry to hear about the death of Alex Trebek. I was looking forward to meeting the person who drafted me. He shared this unforgettable moment with me and I am very thankful for that."

Trebek holds the Guinness World Record for the most game show episodes hosted by the same presenter. He hosted more than 8,200 episodes of "Jeopardy!" over 37 seasons.