How does it happen?

Jordan Boyd (Acadie-Bathurst Titan)

These are the stories that none of us like to read or write as hockey once again loses a young player leaving the rest of us to try to figure out how it happens. While there never is a "good time" for something like this to happen, it is a very sad way to begin the 2013-2014 prospect hockey season.

If you had not heard then here is the story, 16 year old Jonathan Boyd was taking part in his very first workout with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan when out of nowhere he collapsed onto the ice and despite attempts to revive him, Boyd was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Ranger fans will remember the same thing happening to 2007 first round pick Alexei Cherepanov in 2008.

The harshest part of events like this is no matter how hard anyone tries there doesn't seem to be anyway to really prevent these types of events from happening. From all accounts Jonathan Boyd was a very healthy young man who worked very hard during the off-season in order to try to earn a spot on the Acadie-Bathurst Titan roster.

They gave him a through examination when he reported to the Titan training camp so there was not a single clue that anyone saw or could have seen. It is sad and yes it is very tragic as all of our hearts go out to the Boyd family as well as to the Titan team who sadly saw most of the efforts to save Boyd's life.

Jonathan Boyd may he rest in peace 5/23/97-8/12/13.

So it begins

3 New York Ranger and 1 New York Islander prospect are attending training camp with their QMJHL teams this week. Samuel Noreau (2011 5th) is with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Ryan Graves (2013 4th) is with the Charlotte Islanders, and Anthony Duclair (2013 3rd) is with the Quebec Remparts. For the Islanders, they have Loic Leduc (2012 4th) skating with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

Exhibition games will begin on Thursday with Noreau's Drakkar taking on the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.