Fiancee of Canucks Winger Pyatt Dies in car crash

Hockey was put on the back burner on Friday for the Vancouver Canucks and winger Taylor Pyatt.

The team was supposed to be celebrating their 2nd playoff berth in 4 years; however, Pyatt was on his way back to his home town of Thunder Bay, Ontario after learning that his fiancee was killed in a car crash in Jamaica.

Carly Bragnalo was in Jamaica vacationing with her family.  She and Pyatt were to be married this summer.

"Obviously rooming with Taylor on the road I knew he cared a lot about her and was really looking forward to his wedding," said forward Alex Burrows. "I was looking forward to it too."

"No one can say or explain anything to make us feel better," Burrows said. "Only time will tell. Right now it's really challenging."

The team learned of Bragnalo's death as they arrived at General Motors Place for practice Saturday morning.

"It puts life into perspective, obviously," said goalie Roberto Luongo, the team captain. "It makes you cherish life a bit more."

According to the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, Jamaican police said Bragnalo was one of five passengers in a cab, including her mother Debbie. Police say the car lost control on a corner, hit a utility pole and overturned.

Debbie Bragnalo, 48, was treated for injuries at Black River Hospital. It was not known when of if she was released, the Chronicle-Journal said.

"There's not much information," Pyatt's mother Kathy told the Chronicle-Journal. "The (Bragnalo) family is all down there. I'd rather not talk about it right now."

This is one of those times in life where one's priorities are put back in order and you realize just how fragile life is. Even though he plays for the "other" team, I can't help but sympathize with Mr. Pyatt during this difficult time in his life and career.

As a hockey player myself, I know how hard it can be to focus on the game when life happens, because in reality that's all hockey is, just a game. Sometimes it takes a life changing event for us to realize just how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy the things that each and everyone of us do.

May all of our thoughts and prayers be with the Pyatt and Bragnalo families right now during this difficult time.

Here is the full story from TSN.ca.