Coquitlam Express president Mark Pettie said he was shocked and saddened by the news that Matthew Hutchinson, a former player with the club, was among three dead found in New York yesterday.
The 24-year-old North Vancouver man was a student at State University of New York in Geneseo where he had been playing hockey with the school's team while majoring in geography. All of the victims were students or former students and police said the incident was a suspected double murder-suicide.
"We are all shocked and saddened by this tragedy," said Pettie on Monday morning. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Matthew's family as well as all of those involved."
Hutchinson played 57 games with the Express during the 2010/11 season, the first year the team moved back to Coquitlam from Burnaby. He played 11 games with the club the following season before moving to Chilliwack later in the year.
The BCHL released a statement, noting that Hutchinson had played a 130 games in the league, with stints with the Surrey Eagles, the Quesnel Millionaires, the Chilliwack Chiefs and the Coquitlam Express.
Coaches and former teammates said the young player had an outgoing personality and was a positive impact on the players around him.
"We are deeply sadened to hear the news of Matthew's passing," said BCHL commisioner John Grisdale. "He was a hockey player that worked extremely hard to earn the opportunities he got in the game. His former coaches and teammates remember him fondly and I know he will be missed."
The Coquitlam Express will be holding a moment of silence for Hutchinson prior to Friday's game. The Chilliwack Chiefs will do the same on Jan. 30.
According to the CBC, Hutchinson was a volunteer firefighter who spent last summer battling blazes with the BC Wildfire Service.
His body was found along with fellow Geneso student Kelsey Annese, 21, and former student Colin Kingston, 24.
More to come...
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