Tragedy hits minor hockey in New Brunswick
Holmesville, surrounding community grieve death of 15-year-old girl after exhibition game
By Kristina Rutherford, CBC Sports
Funeral services were held Tuesday for a 15-year-old girl who died after her hockey game on Friday at Hartland Community Arena in New Brunswick.
Jessica Pickard of Holmesville, N.B., collapsed after her competitive midget C team played an exhibition game. Carleton Minor Hockey Association president Dawn Shaw says the cause of her death is unknown.
"Members of our association worked on her, called 911, and the ambulance came and took her to the hospital," said Shaw. "Really, nobody knows anything about the cause at this time."
Pickard's team was playing against the league's bantam C team.
Carol Anne Burnham coaches both Pickard and her younger sister, who plays for a peewee team. The coach posted a statement on the association's website.
"This is a very hard weekend," she writes. "My two girls teams have a hard road to travel in the next few days. We will get through this as a team and with the support of family and good friends."
Burnham continues: "Jessica was a player any coach would be proud to have on their team. She was always at the rink ready to play or do dry land.
"This was her first year with the Carleton Mustangs, but to look at the team, she fit in like she had always been with us. She was always smiling and so happy to play. She loved hockey.
"We will all miss her deeply."
The Bugle-Observer in Fredericton reported an arena maintenance worker noticed something was wrong with Pickard, who was sitting alone on the bench at the end of the game.
An ambulance arrived soon after, but Pickard died minutes later.
This was her first season with the Carleton Minor Hockey Association, which has about 230 players.
"The association is just trying to deal with this as a whole membership and be supportive of each other," Shaw said. "Hopefully, we'll get through this difficult time together."
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