Pyatt Thanks Team, Fans For Support After Fiancee's Death

25/04/2009 01:39
VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canuck forward Taylor Pyatt says he appreciates the support he has received from the NHL team and its fans following the death of his fiance in a car accident.

Carly Bragnalo died April 2 while on vacation in Jamaica. Pyatt and Bragnalo were to be married this summer.

"I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and the entire Canucks organization for their tremendous compassion and support during this very difficult time for myself, my family and the entire Bragnalo family," Pyatt said in a release Friday.

"I would also like to thank the passionate fans of the Canucks for their support and the media who have given us the respect and time to grieve in private. I loved Carly very much. My family and I will forever miss her. At this difficult time for our families it is my wish to not speak about our loss publicly."

Pyatt has returned from his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ont. He missed the final five games of the regular season and did not play during the Canucks four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues in the opening round of the playoffs.

In an interview on Vancouver radio station TEAM 1040, Canucks' general manager Mike Gillis gave Pyatt his full support.

"I had a chance to speak with Taylor yesterday and I think he's dealing with a lot of emotion and what everyone would deal with, after going through what he went through," Gillis told the TEAM. "But it's nice we have this break because we're hoping he can get back on the ice with our team and have a nice period of time to get back in the swing of things. Hopefully he'll feel better when he's occupied and around all our guys and has their support."

Pyatt had 10 goals and nine assists in 69 regular season games.

SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:

This is a very tragic story, indeed.