OHL and Memorial Cup Champion Kelly Thomson dies at 34.

A stunning announcement.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
OHL and Memorial Cup Champion Kelly Thomson dies at 34.
Postmedia/London Free Press

We have some very, very sad news to report. 

A stunning report from the London Free Press has revealed that former member of the London Knights Kelly Thomson has died at the extremely young age of just 34. Thomson is of course known as part of the 2005 London Knights team that would go on to capture the Memorial Cup that year, a team that is viewed by many fans and pundits alike as the greatest junior hockey team to ever lace up the skates anywhere in the world. 

Obviously given the fact that Thomson was just 34 years old has made this news a shock to everyone involved, and that is putting it mildly, and at this time the cause of his death remains a mystery. What we do know however is that two weeks prior to his death Thomson fainted behind the wheel of his car and was diagnosed with a heart condition that had previously gone diagnosed. 

Thomson was known as a tough customer, and he looked the part as well,  but his brother will remember him as the gentle giant that he truly was.

“On the outside he looked tough and almost intimidating,” brother Riley Thomson said Monday morning as per the London Free Press. “But he was really genuine and kind-hearted. He would always stick up for his family and friends and teammates.”

Following his career as a player for the London Knights Thomson would go on to continue his journey in hockey when he became the head coach of the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey league. He would lead that team to a championship as well in 2013, giving out the impression that Thomson was somewhat of a natural born winner when it comes to his life in hockey.

“I never got the chance to play for him. Obviously, I got to play with him, but I think the same way as he was in the locker room for us as teammates, I think that would’ve transitioned very well for him as a coach,” said friend and former Knights captain Danny Syvret as per Global News.

“He just makes everyone around him comfortable and you’ll try to do anything you can for him, conversely, as he did for you.”

Obviously this is horrific news for the Thomson family and our thoughts and condolences go out to them in this difficult time.

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