Long time NHL referee has lost his life.

After yesterday's news we all knew this was coming but it does not make things any less sad. 

In the final minutes of Friday night long time National Hockey League referee Michael "Mick" McGeough passed away after his family made the extremely difficult decision to take him off of the life support systems that were keeping him alive. His passing was officially confirmed on social media through a message from Luke McGeough, Mick's son, who appeared to be in good spirits in spite of what has to be an awful time for him. McGeough announced the tragic news but not without poking a little fun at his dead in the process.

"On Nov.23, at 11:39 p.m., we peacefully said goodbye to Mick McGeough," began Luke in his message. "An amazing father, brother, uncle and friend. He was larger than life but not his head. Truly one of the greatest characters around. Your reach went beyond borders Micky. You loved and were loved."

When it was revealed this week that Mick had suffered a stroke the outpouring of support from the hockey community towards the former NHL official and his family was amazing, however the serious of Mick's condition was later revealed and there was simply to way back for him at that point. Following the stroke McGeough consulted a neurosurgeon in Saskatoon regarding a number of blood clots that had formed in his brain in order to learn how to best remove them but unfortunately that damage proved to be irreversible and eventually cost him his life. 

After receiving the bad news regarding the blood clots in his brain Mick and his family returned to his hometown of Regina and it was there that his family made the decision to take him off of life support on Friday. McGeough officially passed away at 11:39 p.m. on Friday from complications stemming from his stroke, he was only 62 years of age at the time of his death.

McGeough started his career as an NHL official all the way back in 1987 and would go on to appear in over 1,000 National Hockey Leagye regular season games and 63 NHL playoff games including the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to his son Luke and the rest of the McGeough family in this most difficult of times.

[pub]