Family, friends, and the hockey community are honoring former Ontario Hockey League and University of Guelph player Jacob Winterton, who passed away on Tuesday at the young age of 25 after a battle with cancer.
Jacob was the older brother of Ryan Winterton, a 22-year-old center with the National Hockey League’s Seattle Kraken, who shared on Instagram that he had “lost my best friend.”
In November, a page for a Canadian Cancer Society fundraiser called Gryphons Hockey Fights Cancer revealed that Jacob was diagnosed with Stage 4 bone cancer after experiencing pain in his shoulder. The illness then spread to his lungs.
“You weren’t just someone I loved, you were someone I looked up to, someone who guided me, believed in me, and helped shape the person I am today,” Ryan Winterton wrote on social media.
“I’ll miss your voice, your advice, and the way you made everything feel a little less heavy. Some days will be harder than others, but I’ll hold on to the love, the lessons, and the memories you left me with. You’ll always be a part of me in everything I do,” Ryan’s post says.
Other NHL players expressed their condolences in response to his post.
The Kraken previously announced that Ryan has taken a leave of absence from the team and requested that people respect his privacy during this difficult time.
On Wednesday, the team stated it was “deeply saddened by the passing of Jacob Winterton, brother of Ryan Winterton. We are sending love and support to Ryan, the Winterton family and all of Jacob’s loved ones.”
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The Oshawa Generals shared their condolences on X on Wednesday. (Oshawa Generals/@Oshawa_Generals/X)
The Generals posted on X, formerly Twitter, expressing they were “deeply saddened” by Winterton’s death.</P
The Firebirds also took to X stating that Winterton’s family is “in our thoughts.”</P
“Condolences from the Firebirds as we lose one of our own far too young.”</P
Jacob played four seasons for the University of Guelph Gryphons while pursuing studies in real estate through their bachelor of commerce program.</P
Gryphons head coach Josh Dixon remembered Winterton fondly on Wednesday as a “tremendous hockey player and an even better person.”</P
Dixon remarked in a statement to that Jacob was “an absolute pleasure to coach and to be around every day. He fought cancer with an unwavering positive attitude and strength of character that was an inspiration to everyone in our program.”</P
“Jacob was the strongest most courageous person I have ever known. He will be dearly missed; his memory will live on among countless people connected with Guelph Gryphons hockey whom he inspired. Rest in peace Jake.”
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A longtime Ontario hockey player
The Ontario Hockey League released a statement on Wednesday saying Jacob Winterton was “taken far too soon.” Jacob grew up in Whitby and played under-16 AAA and under-18 AAA hockey with the Ajax-Pickering Raiders. During the 2017 OHL selection process, he was picked in the 10th round (189 overall), playing forward for both the Flint Firebirds during the 2018-19 season and for Oshawa Generals in 2019-2020. Throughout his OHL career, he recorded 18 goals, 19 assists and totaled 37 points over 125 regular-season games according to league statistics.Source link
