Shawnigan Lake RCMP is investigating after the driver in a single-vehicle collision died.
Police were called to Shawnigan Lake Rd near Baden Powell Rd around 5:30 a.m. on July 19 for the collision.
Early evidence indicates the black Porsche Boxster appears to have left the road and hit a tree.
The 33-year-old driver was found dead at the scene.
Ice Hockey UK released a statement that the driver was Mike Hammond, who most recently played for the Nottingham Panthers.
“Mike was a cherished GB team-mate, loved by so many, and very much part of the Great Britain family,” a statement by Ice Hockey UK says.
“He made his debut in 2018 and helped GB win the gold medal at the World Championship Division I Group A in Hungary. That promotion saw GB play at the top-level World Championship in 2019 and Hammond scored four goals in seven matches in Kosice.”
The Panthers shared a statement saying their thoughts are with Hammond’s family, friends and teammates at this time.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) says Hammond was born in Brighton, England in 1990 and moved to Canada as a child. He started his hockey journey playing with the Juan de Fuca Orcas.
He made his debut with the Great Britain team in 2018.
For the upcoming season, he was in the process of confirming a contract with the Glasgow Clan, whose head coach says he is saddened to hear of Hammond’s death.
“I’m so saddened by the devastating news about Mike Hammond and I’m at a loss for words,” head coach Jason Morgan told the IIHF. “I was thrilled for the upcoming season to have the opportunity to work with Hammy, but this is such terrible news for everyone.”
In Canada, Hammond played on a number of teams including the Victoria Cougars, Victoria Grizzlies, Cowichan Valley Capitals, and in Thunder Bay as a Thunderwolf.
In the U.K., he played on Braehead Clan, Manchester Storm, Coventry Blaze and Nottingham Panthers, and Lausitzer Fuchse and Hannover Scorpions in Germany and Odense and Frederikshavn in Denmark.
Police and the BC Coroner are investigating the collision and death.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Shawnigan Lake RCMP at 250-743-5514.
CHEK News
