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
DEVELOPING Latest updates on the major wildfires currently burning in Canada
Thousands of Canadians have been displaced as fires burn in Alberta, B.C. and Manitoba. Here are the latest updates.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her — but it wasn't murder, lawyers argue
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during at his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.
Kidnapped by her father and kept in a crawl space: Court documents reveal Montreal horror story
A Montreal father who kidnapped his daughter who has autism and lied to police when they asked where she was should serve three years in prison, a Crown prosecutor said.
Loblaw agrees to sign grocery code of conduct after months of negotiations
Loblaw Cos. Ltd. said Thursday it's ready to sign on to the grocery code of conduct, paving the way for an agreement that's been years in the making.
Pierre Poilievre presses Justin Trudeau for summer pause on carbon and fuel taxes
To give Canadians a break on their summer road trips, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to suspend all gas and diesel taxes from Victoria Day to Labour Day.
Teen died from eating a spicy chip as part of social media challenge, autopsy report concludes
A medical examiner says a Massachusetts teen who participated in a spicy tortilla chip challenge died from ingesting a substance 'with a high capsaicin concentration.'
Ontario's so-called 'Crypto King' soliciting investments as recently as February: police
Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ Aiden Pleterski was soliciting new investors as recently as February – a year-and-a-half after he was petitioned into bankruptcy for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million - police alleged on Thursday.
Noticed a new payment? Some Canadians get first carbon rebate
Many Canadians found a message from the Canada Revenue Agency this week as they received their first direct deposit for the Canada Carbon Rebate.