Fundraising underway for Sask. hockey player following death in Dominican Republic
Friends and former teammates are raising money for the family of Brady Grasdal, a 21-year old hockey player from Saskatchewan who died tragically last week.
“He was a brother to everyone,” said Grasdal's childhood friend Bryan Thompson.
Thompson and Grasdal first met while playing minor hockey in Moose Jaw, Sask.
“We sorta just clicked,” Thompson said.
While scrolling through photos and memories on his phone, sitting in the seats of the very rink they played in, Thompson says he won’t remember Brady as a hockey player.
But rather, as a best friend.
“We were inseparable,” Thompson explained. “I’ll miss the random one-liners and jokes he would say when he walked in the room.”
Starting his playing career in Moose Jaw, Grasdal also played at Notre Dame, Yorkton, Portage La Prairie, Man. and in Nipawin.
This season, he assistant coached the U15 AA Moose Jaw Warriors.
Friends say Grasdal died during an accidental fall while on vacation to the Dominican Republic.
In an email to CTV News, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said “[they] were providing consular assistance to the family and were in contact with local officials.”
GAC added they could not disclose any further information citing “privacy considerations.”
The process to get him home is lengthy and costly.
“We got a good start already,” Thompson said. “But we’re looking to raise it even higher.”
Thompson and some other of Grasdal’s friends have designed hoodies in Brady’s honour to raise money for the family to help cover some costs.
(Courtesy: Bryan Thompson)
The hoodie bears the letters ‘BG’ and the number ‘24,’ which he wore.
The first of his many tattoos is scripted on the sleeve. It reads, “Family over anything.”
“[He] deserves more than a hoodie,” Thompson added. “But this is a great way for us to show support.”
On Saturday, 50/50 proceeds from the U15 Warriors game will also be given to the Grasdal’s.
That game is at 7:15 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Thompson says they have no fund goal to meet. Just as much as they can raise.
To make an order, you can contact Bryan Thompson or Matt Dueck on social media.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.