A former Chilliwack Chiefs defenceman is dead, the victim of an a suspected murder-suicide in Geneseo, NY.
Matthew Hutchinson and two others were found early Sunday morning in a home near the campus of the State University of New York at Geneseo.
Hutchinson, a 24 year old who spent part of the 2011-12 BCHL season in Chilliwack, was a fourth-year blueliner for the SUNY Geneseo Knights hockey team.
Hours before his life ended, the North Vancouver native had an assist on the game winning goal as his team beat Franklin Pierce University 6-2.
Hutchinson was a volunteer firefighter who was majoring in geography and minoring in business studies.
Details of the tragedy emerged Monday after authorities held a press conference.
Colin Kingston, 24 years old, is alleged to have killed Hutchinson and 21 year old Kelsey Annese with a knife before turning the weapon on himself.
Kingston was apparently upset because a relationship with Annese had ended.
Before taking his own life, Kingston called his father to tell him what he’d done.
The father then called 9-1-1.
Hutchinson was in Chilliwack for 42 games during the team’s first season back, dealt to the Chiefs by the Coquitlam Express in late October, 2011.
The picture to the left is from his time in Chilliwack.
He also played BCHL games for the Quesnel Millionaires and Surrey Eagles.
“The BCHL is offering its most heartfelt sympathies to the friends and family of Matthew Hutchinson,” league spokesman Brent Mutis wrote in a news release. “Hutchinson had many friends across the BCHL. He is remembered by coaches and teammates alike for his outgoing personality, ready smile and for the positive impact he made for his team and on those around him.”
“We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Matthew’s passing,” added BCHL commissioner John Grisdale. “He was a hockey player that worked extremely hard to earn the opportunities he got in the game. His former coaches and teammates remember him fondly and I know he will be missed.”
The Chiefs will have a moment of silence before their next home game, against Surrey on Jan. 30.