Sad news out of San Diego

[xrickyb86x 1]

Very sad news out of a rink I played at here in San Diego, CA.

I received this e mail from my team captain earlier today...

(I left the players name and team out until more details come out)

"Guys - I heard some sad news but don't know have all the facts. It is my understanding that (player name) from (team) died last Sunday (April 21st) after being hit is the chest by the puck. We played (team) that night and I not 100% sure if he played in that game or another game that night. He apparently left the rink and starting having chest pain at around 3am that night the pain got worse and he headed to the store for meds and his heart stopped. He was not wearing shoulder pads. He was 47 with a wife and three children and good guy."

I am not posting this to spark debate over what shoulder pads can or can't do (like helmets preventing concussions or socks preventing cuts). I just hope to help some of you who have debated wearing (or not wearing) shoulder pads in the past. Just because it's a non check league doesn't mean they can't help you from catastrophic injury. Please be safe guys.

[donkers 31]

I play in San Diego and didn't hear about this. I am definitely interested in more details.

[xrickyb86x 1]

Absolutely. As more information comes out I will update the original post. I didn't intentionally leave out the rink name. This happened at the Iceoplex in Escondido.

[Buzz_LightBeer 969]

I'm in no way downplaying this, as it is tragedy. But being a medical guy I wonder if there were other factors here, and the puck hit was coincidental.

A puck hitting you could either disrupt electrical activity in the heart, generally very acute (think the little league player hit with a ball), or cause swelling around the heart preventing it from functioning properly, usually seen in high speed vehicle accidents and such.

Possibly could have broken a rib and disrupted blood flow or lung function.

More detail in this accident could be interesting.

[xrickyb86x 1]

Thank you Junkyard. I am sorry for your loss.

I was waiting on further emails to see what kind of fundraisers or ways to show respect to a fellow hockey player may be.

You obviously knew him much better thn myself or anyone I know so if a mod would let Junkyard take over this topic it would be great.

My condolences.

[IPv6Freely 2093]

My wife took the 911 call. Unfortunately I probably can't/shouldn't repeat any of the conversation we had about it the next day.

Sorry about your friend, JYA.

[Kyle Friedman 9]

Wow, I live and play in Escondido and did not hear about this either. Terrible to hear, wishes go out to his family.

[LearDriver 1]

Oh wow, very sad to hear that. Condolences to his family and friends, including those of you here on the forum.

I don't wear anything up top for my inline league, but now I'm thinking of picking up a padded shirt even though it'll be very hot.

[beedee 227]

Very sad event. Sorry for the loss of your good bud Junkyard, let us know if there will be a memorial fund or any other way that we might be able to help out.

[SCOMPL 14]

A very sad loss. Please share any fundraising links or support campaigns and I, as a fellow San Diego hockey player, will absolutely endorse them.

[Chadd 916]

A very sad loss. Please share any fundraising links or support campaigns and I, as a fellow San Diego hockey player, will absolutely endorse them.

The only thing we ask is that those links/information be posted in the appropriate forum here on the site.

[StManTiS 2]

Very unfortunate indeed. Something similar happened to my high school LAX team. The goalie got a ball to the chest and it killed his heart. Poor guy was only 18 years old.

[Chadd 916]

While we do allow charity event information to be posted in the charity event forum, we do not allow solicitations for donations to trust funds. If you would like to help, please contact Justin Liedloff for more information.

[smu 29]

I have been not on the forum much lately thus the the late response.

Unfortunately this was my nephew from Arizona, originally from Canada!

[smu 29]

Sean, is that you? Are you going to the event in two weeks?

No, not Sean, he is another nephew.

It was my sister's son. My brother and I went to the "celebration" on April 28th.

[smu 29]

Your sister is a great lady. Don was a good man and someone I'm proud to have been friends with for roughly 20 years.

I'm sure we crossed paths either at the house or the hotel last month.

Anne Thomson (Sheppard) was like a "mom" to me in my early years, with three brothers younger than her. I love her dearly, Barrie too!

I understand you had some involvement in the sweaters at the "event".

We were seated at Barrie and Anne's table at the back far right hand side of the room where the talk went on until we were almost pushed out of the room. I had many discussions with the other guys in particular Chris from Enterprise, I just don't know if I met you, in particular.

Thanks for all your help and kindness, hope we see and converse with one another on the forum at a later date. I joined a few years ago, but did not post much until not long before Don died. Mostly it was respect to pronation and the proper fix. I now understand the concept if you search my 50 posts.

BTW I was asked to play in the hockey game for Don when I was down in Phoenix, but given the fact that I never played with inline skates it was decided best not to.

Thanks for all you have done. I have requested a friend status, hope you don't mind.

Alan Sheppard

[splitbtw 2]

What rink did this happen at?

Edit:never mind

[smu 29]

What rink did this happen at?

Edit:never mind

I am not in the photo, we were leaving early the next morning at 5AM and decided not to go. I did not know when everyone would get back home so I did not take the chance! - Alan

[smu 29]

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