Tragic news emerged from the world of hockey last week, when it was announced that a star member of Great Britain's national hockey squad, Mike Hammond, was killed in a single-car crash on Vancouver Island, as CTV News reported.

Hammond's death was confirmed in a Thursday statement from Ice Hockey UK, the sport's governing body in the United Kingdom, which referred to the late athlete as a “cherished GB teammate, loved by so many, and very much part of the Great Britain family.”

Single-car collision claims Hammond

The outlet indicated that law enforcement officers were called to the crash scene, said to be near Baden Powell Road on the island, around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Responding officers said that evidence gathered at the site suggested that Hammond's black Porsche Boxster automobile departed the roadway before striking a tree, resulting in the death of the car's only occupant.

CTV News further noted that police as well as the coroner's office will continue to probe what caused Hammond to veer off the road, but that the precise cause of the incident remains unclear.

Those with information about what occurred have been asked to get in touch with the Shawnigan Lake RCMP as the investigation continues.

Noteworthy career cut short

According to the BBC, Hammond got his start in international hockey back in 2018, when he was part of the Division 1 Group A gold-winning team at the World Championship in Hungary.

As of last season, Hammond was a member of the Nottingham Panthers team in England.

Ice Hockey U.K. noted that Hammond was responsible for scoring five points at the World Championship Division 1 Group this year, a feat which helped the national squad achieve promotion back to the top level of competition.

Hammond's hockey career also included time spent as a member of the Coventry Blaze, Manchester Storm and Braehead Clan, and he also played on teams in Germany, Denmark, as well as Canada, as the BBC detailed.

Tributes pour in

Since the news of his death began to spread, Hammond has been the subject of tributes from friends, family, and teammates alike, as the Daily Mail noted, with his brother Steve writing on Facebook, “I'm lost for words, still trying to comprehend what's happened. You will be greatly missed love you brother.”

A friend of Hammond's who posted the last known photo to have been taken of the hockey star took to Instagram to say, “Words cannot describe how much you will be missed, Mikey. I am so lucky to have shared such a great day at the lake with you yesterday trading laughs and stories. Rest in peace my brother.”

Another poster who was clearly a member of the athlete's inner circle wrote, “I always thought that the 4 of us would grow old and wise together. 30 years from now we'd do Christmas with the next generations of Hammonds and Machnees, even though you and I may have just ended up the cool uncles.”

Summing up the sentiments of countless individuals shaken by the premature loss of a talented young sports start was relative Jake Douglass, who said, “Not enough memories made. Not enough laughs. Not enough times together...[r]emember to always cherish the times you have with the ones you love because you never know when the time is up.”