CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Edmonton’s MacEwan University is mourning the death of one of their student-athletes.
According to the university, 23-year-old Nakehko Lamothe, a member of the Griffins men’s hockey team passed away following a game on Friday night at SAIT.
We are heartbroken at the passing of Nakehko Lamothe, a member of the Griffins men’s hockey team. We have lost an exceptional leader and role model, both on and off the ice. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and all those who knew him. https://t.co/R7LMwPMJyV
— MacEwan University (@MacEwanU) January 26, 2019
A release says after becoming unwell following the game, Nakehko was rushed to Foothills Hospital where he died just before midnight.
The cause of death has not been released.
Dr. Deborah Saucier, president, MacEwan University, has spoken to family members to share condolences and offer support. “It’s difficult to comprehend the pain Nakehko’s family is going through right now. We will do whatever we can to assist them during this tragic time.”
A student in the Bachelor of Science program, Nakehko was in his third year with the Griffins after joining the program out of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s La Ronge Ice Wolves in 2016. He played a vital role with the Griffins, helping the team to win back-to-back Alberta Colleges Athletic Association (ACAC) titles in 2017 and 2018.
We are deeply saddened to learn the news that a student-athlete with the @MacEwanGriffins men's hockey team has passed away.
Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, and to the Athletics Department at MacEwan University.
— SAIT Trojans (@SAIT_Trojans) January 26, 2019
Nakehko grew up in the Bigstone Cree Nation in Calling Lake. Nakehko was extremely proud of his Indigenous heritage and took the same passion and enthusiasm he demonstrated as a player and applied them to becoming a role model for Indigenous youth.
Saucier said that Nakehko considered his fellow players as family, not just as teammates. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates. The university is putting support services in place to help them through this difficult time.”
The Griffins’ hockey game scheduled for this evening has been cancelled.
Both the SAIT Trojans men’s and women’s hockey games Saturday night have also been postponed.
