Brock Hirsche, a former captain of the Prince George Cougars, has died of cancer at age 26.
The Lethbridge native played parts of five seasons with the Cougars until his Western Hockey League career as a centre was cut short by shoulder injuries. He retired from the Cougars in December 2012, after playing just 18 games that season, forced to undergo his second shoulder operation to repair a torn labrum.
Hirsche returned to Alberta and played the next three seasons with the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns, playing his final season in the CIS as the Pronghorns captain.
He first was diagnosed with testicular cancer in January 2016 at age 23 and had successful treatment, but the cancer returned last year.
Before he died, Hirsche established a scholarship, now known as the Brock Hirsche Pronghorn Award, which will be presented to the Pronghorn player who best exemplifies leadership on his team and in the community, while promoting men’s health issues. That fund has reached $30,000.
Hirsche played in 161 WHL regular season games, totalling 26 goals 61 points and 89 penalty minutes in his career. He also had two assists in seven playoff games. In 73 CIS games for the Pronghorns he put up 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points.
