Young Goaltender Dies in Head-On Collision

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TJ Tucker
August 31, 2023 (6:47 PM)

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A hockey player has been killed in a head-on collision that happened early Wednesday morning. The Prédateurs de Joliette, a Junior A team located in Quebec, has announced that 19-year-old Émile Gagné, a goaltender from Saint-Maurice, QC, passed away from his injuries.

"We regret to inform you that our player Émile Gagné tragically lost his life today in a car accident. Émile played half a season with the Preds in 2022-2023. Before becoming a Preds, he played for Le Titan de Princeville in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023." - Prédateurs de Joliette

Le Titan de Princeville also confirmed the news.

"It's with a heavy heart that this message is written today... we're all speechless. This Wednesday morning, August 30, 2023, Émile Gagné, former Titan color bearer, died tragically in a traffic accident at the age of just 19...
The organization wishes to offer its deepest condolences to his parents and friends as well as his current teammates at the Predators of Joliette and his former teammates with Le Titan de Princeville

All our thoughts are with you... be strong.

Émile, wherever you are, take good care of those you loved and give them the strength to overcome the huge void you leave in their lives...
Love you Émile"...

Gagne had been drafted by the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, but had yet to make his debut with the team. A GoFundMe has been started to help Gagne's family with expenses at this difficult time. The page states "Émile was a hard worker, ready to help anyone who needed it...was an energetic person who was passionate about hockey. A prodigy on the ice, both as a player and as a goalkeeper."