Coventry Blaze: Tributes paid after death of assistant ice hockey coach

Tributes have been paid to a popular ice hockey coach, who died on Monday.

Coventry Blaze said their assistant coach Dayle Keen passed away suddenly whilst in Scotland.

The 33-year-old, who also coached GB youth sides, had been with the Elite League club since 2018.

He was affectionately known as Keeno and the club said the "whole organisation is shocked" by the news, adding their thoughts were with his family and many friends.

"We know that this news will be difficult for many to process, and we kindly ask that anyone struggling seeks the support needed," the club added, linking to NHS information about bereavement.

The Great Britain national team and Ice Hockey UK also said they were devastated by the news and described Mr Keen as "a popular character throughout UK hockey, much loved by everyone across the country especially in the GB set-up and his domestic club, Coventry Blaze".

They added he had "a positive impact on everyone he met and lit up a room with his wit and humour".

Mr Keen was appointed assistant coach of the men's Great Britain Under-20s in July 2019 and was part of two silver medal-winning teams in 2020 and 2023.

He also helped lead the team to bronze medals in 2022 and 2024.

Before he started coaching, he played for Solway Sharks and Kilmarnock Storm.

After stints with Basingstoke Bison's juniors and Sheffield Steeldogs in the English Premier Ice Hockey League, he joined Coventry Blaze in the Elite League in 2018 as skills coach.

If you have been affected by bereavement, help and support is also available at BBC Action Line.

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