Hockey world mourns the tragic loss of former Cup Champion at the age of 57

The NHL Alumni Association announced the tragic passing of former NHLer Lonnie Loach on Monday, after a battle with cancer.

Loach had a tremendous impact in the OHL
. He received many awards over his career but only had limited opportunities in the NHL.

Born in 1968 in Ontario, the 5-foot-10 winger impressed in his first OHL season with the Guelph Platers. He led his team to a championship win in 1986 with an impressive tally of 41 goals and 42 assists in 65 regular season games.

His achievements caught the eyes of NHL scouts and he was drafted 98th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the same year.

However, he never played for the Hawks and had a long journey before playing his first NHL game.

After being drafted, he spent several years in the OHL, then in the now-defunct IHL, before joining the Adirondack Red Wings in the AHL, where he won a Calder Cup in 1992.

He finally played his first NHL games during the 1992-93 season with the Ottawa Senators but was claimed by the Los Angeles Kings on waivers after only three games.

That season, he scored 23 points, including 10 goals, in 50 games with the Kings.

A year later, he was claimed by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the 1993 expansion draft.

Read the full statement from the NHL Alumni Association here:

We extend our sincerest condolences to his friends, family, and all those affected by this tragic loss.