Vancouver Canucks forward Taylor Pyatt has returned home to Thunder Bay after his fiancée died in a car crash while on vacation in Jamaica.
Carly Bragnalo was 27. The high school sweethearts were to be married this summer after 11 years together.
“Today the Canucks lost a member of our family,” GM Mike Gillis said in a statement. “Carly was a lovely and generous young woman who shared her spirit for life with our players, their spouses and their extended families. We will support the Bragnalo family, Taylor and his entire family in any way we can during this very difficult time.”
Bragnalo was killed in a single-car accident in St. Elizabeth, in western Jamaica early on Friday. She was in a taxi with four other passengers when the driver lost control while negotiating a corner. Her mother, Debbie Bragnalo, was also seriously injured and remains in hospital in Jamaica.
Pyatt’s family has issued a statement asking for privacy.
“At this difficult period, the family would request to be given the time to grieve in private,” the statement said. “We are focused on our son and the Bragnalo family. We thank you for your support and understanding.”
Bragnalo’s death is the second tragedy to strike the Canucks recently.
Ten months ago, defenceman Luc Bourdon, 21, died after losing control of his motorcycle and crashing against a tractor-trailer near his hometown of Shippagan, N.B.
