Raymond Sawada, a former NHL player for the Dallas Stars turned firefighter, died suddenly Monday at the age of 38.
Sawada suffered a heart attack while playing in a recreational hockey league in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
Sawada is survived by his wife and two young daughters, ages 9 and 6, whom he coached in hockey.
The Dallas Stars paid tribute to their former player and offered condolences to Sawada’s friends and family in a tweet, saying, “It is with heavy hearts we mourn the passing of former Stars player, Raymond Sawada. Our love goes out to his family, friends, and all the people he impacted in hockey and as a firefighter in his community.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Sawada’s family.
From the GoFundMe:
It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the sudden passing of Ray Sawada. At age 38, Ray passed away on the evening of Monday April 10, 2023, while playing the game he loved. He leaves behind his loving wife, Nicole, his two young and incredibly amazing daughters, Victoria (9) and Charlotte (6), and his supportive, devoted, and dedicated family and friends.
Ray grew up and lived in the City of Richmond. He was a hard-working firefighter for the City of Burnaby. He joined Burnaby Fire in 2017 and has been an integral part of the department where he served with distinction and honor.
