Rick Bowness breaks down after learning about the passing of his good friend Dale Hawerchuk

The series between the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames is tied at 2-2 with a best of 3 now underway. While Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness wanted to focus on the game Tuesday, he was informed on his good friend Dale Hawerchuk’s passing and that changed everything… 

Hawerchuk had experienced a recurrence of cancer in recent weeks and unfortunately lost his battle on Tuesday. 

Bowness was an assistant coach for the Winnipeg Jets when Hawerchuk came on their roster and knew he was going to change the game. 

At Rogers Place, an hour before the start of the Stars and Flames’ game, Bowness came on the bench to look at the images of the tribute for Hawerchuk that were running on the screens and broke down crying. 

This is heartbreaking to watch knowing that Bowness is alone in the Edmonton bubble, thinking about his friend who past away at just 57 years old. 

This is hard to watch. I kinda want the Stars to win this one for Bowness on this difficult day. 

The hockey world is obviously at a loss to describe emotions. Hawerchuk is one of the all-time greats of the sport and, by all accounts, was an incredible human being and a very talented coach, as well. To lose a man who has had such a tremendous impact on the sport… there are no words. 

RIP, Ducky. Gone, but never forgotten.