Nakehko Lamothe has died after feeling “unwell” during Friday night game.

I unfortunately have some very tragic news to report.

On Friday night during a game contested in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Association, a game between the MacEwan University Griffins and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Trojans,  a young 23 year old hockey player named Nakehko Lamothe reported feeling unwell, normally not something you would think is potentially life threatening. However it is clear that at some point the seriousness of Lamothe's condition became abundantly clear as he was rushed to Foothills Hospital. Unfortunately the attempts to save Lamothe's life proved to be unsuccessful and he tragically passed away shortly before midnight.

Not only is a situation like this in the hockey world always a tragedy, but it is especially cruel when it happens to a young man like Lamothe who was only just 23 years of age. At this time we do not know exactly what happened to Lamothe either during the game or after it that could have cause such a severe condition, nor do we know the official cause of death.

Unfortunately now a group of young men playing for MacEwan University will be forced to mourn the loss of one of their brothers, something that no group of men at that age should ever have to experience. The university released a short statement expressing their condolences to the family and vowing to provide them with support in what must one of the most difficult times imaginable.

 “It’s difficult to comprehend the pain Nakehko’s family is going through right now,” said Dr. Deborah Saucier, MacEwan University president, after speaking with Lamothe’s family as per Global News.

“We will do whatever we can to assist them in this difficult time.”

“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,” Saucier added.

Lamothe help the Griffins capture a championship in both 2017 and 2018 and was a proud member of the Bigstone Cree Nation near calling lake.

“He 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,” said university spokesperson David Beharry.

Our thoughts go out to the Lamothe family and their loves ones as well as Nakehko's teammates and the friends he leaves behind.