Ottawa 67's mourn passing of former player Lance Galbraith

The Ottawa 67’s and Ottawa’s hockey community are mourning the death of a former star player.

Lance Galbraith died in a car crash in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Friday at the age of 42, according to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Galbraith played five seasons with the 67's in the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning a Memorial Cup in 1999 and an OHL championship in 2001.

“When you think of the guys we have had here, Lance was right up there with the most popular Ottawa 67’s of all-time,” said former Coach and GM Brian Kilrea in a statement from the team. “It’s very sad and all of our thoughts are with his family, friends, and former teammates.”

Galbraith also played for other pro leagues in the U.S., including the ECHL, where he won Kelly Cup championships with the Idaho Steelheads in 2004 and 2007.

“It’s a sad day for sure,” said former teammate Dan Tessier. “He was a big part of our Memorial Cup team. Lance is one of the guys that his heart was always for the players and on the ice.”

Tessier says he spent four years with Galbraith at the Civic Centre with the Ottawa 67’s.

“There’s not one team in the OHL that wouldn’t have loved to have had Lance Galbraith those years,” former Ottawa 67’s owner Jeff Hunt said.

Galbraith’s former billet says news of Lance’s death was “gut-wrenching.”

“Lance is our family, he's part of our family.. He was just the light at the end of every day,” Louise Logue said on Saturday.

Logue says while Galbraith’s play on the ice is what captivated fans, his actions away from the rink are what she’ll remember.

“I remember my nephew being bullied at school and he told Lance about it,” Logue said. “Lance started going and having lunch with him at school and all the kids were like, ‘Wow, Andy has Lance Galbraith here having lunch with him.’ He calmed that whole situation down with just his mere presence.”