Some sad news to pass along in the hockey world on Monday as former Niagara IceDogs draft pick and one of Great Britain's top prospects, Alex Graham, has passed away at the age of 20.
Graham was selected 105th overall by the Ontario Hockey League's Niagara IceDogs in the 2021 CHL Import Draft. He signed with the team just a few months later, but ultimately never suited up for the IceDogs due to the CHL's rule of only being allowed to have two import players in your lineup as Niagara signed Danil Gushchin. Graham decided to return to England and played for the Sheffield Steelers once again.
The Sheffield native was widely regarded as one of top prospects in all of British hockey alongside Arizona Coyotes prospect Liam Kirk, University of Alaska-Fairbanks forward Cade Neilson and Cornell University defenceman Liam Steele.
This past season, Graham appeared in 15 games for the Steelers, recording five points (one goal, four assists), four penalty minutes and was a plus-five.