The captain of a team in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League has died.
The Ayr Centennials announced that Eli Palfreyman passed away on the evening of Tuesday, August 30.
The Township of North Dumfries says Palfreyman died during a game at the Ayr Mutual Global Invitational Tournament, which has since been cancelled.
A Cambridge native, Palfreyman was named captain of the Centennials just five days prior to his death.
❤️ #RIP17 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/FEOlFl0yWQ
— Ayr Centennials (@AyrCentennials) August 31, 2022
The team says doctors will have more answers in the coming days.
Palfreyman was 20-years-old at the time of his death.
“The GOJHL and all member teams would like to extend our deepest condolences to Eli’s family, friends, his teammates, and the entire Centennials organization. This is an unexplainable tragedy, and no words can ease the pain everyone involved is feeling,” says commissioner Brent Garbutt. “As Eli’s relationships and friendships run deep throughout the GOJHL, the league is assisting with providing grief and mental health professionals to support the Centennials organization as well as other teams and their players."