Alex Graham.Photo:Sheffield Steelers/Twitter
Sheffield Steelers/Twitter
A British hockey team says its players are “heartbroken” after learning one of their young teammates died this past weekend.Alex Graham, a pro hockey player with the Sheffield Steelers, died over the weekend, the team announced Monday. He was 20 years old.
Since making his debut in 2019, Graham had played in 81 games “and was regarded as an outstanding talent about to make his mark on the professional game,” according to the team.
The Steelers finished their 2022-23 season in April, and made it to the semi-finals of the Elite Ice Hockey League playoffs. The league called Graham’s death “deeply sad news.”
Players and teams from around the league shared their condolences on social media.
Scott Wheeler, a sports reporter who covers NHL prospects, noted that Graham “was one of the very best young players in the UK.”
Graham had also played for both Great Britain’s Under-18s and Under-20s national teams.
The forward was on Britain’s silver medal-winning team at the 2020 Under-20 World Championships in Lithuania, scoring four goals and three assists in the tournament. He later notched three more goals and assists in the 2022 Under-20 World Championship tournament in Romania, helping Great Britain win a bronze medal.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Details surrounding Graham’s death were not immediately available.
“It would be appreciated if Alex’s family could be provided time and space to take in the enormity of this tragic situation in the days ahead,” the Steelers said.
source: people.com
