Brendan Burke, the son of Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, has died in a car crash.
The team announced 21-year-old Brendan Burke was fatally injured in an accident Friday in Indiana.
Local authorities say the two-vehicle accident was the result of bad weather on the highway, after a heavy snowfall.
Burke, 21, and his friend Mark A. Reedy, 18, died at the scene of the accident, which happened around 2:50 p.m. Friday.
The Leafs issued a statement late Friday:
"The Toronto Maple Leafs are saddened to report that Brendan Burke, the youngest son of Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke, succumbed to injuries he suffered in an auto accident earlier today in Indiana.
"The family asks for privacy at this difficult time."
Burke was an assistant on the University of Miami (Ohio) hockey team, and was working towards a career in hockey management.
Late last year, Burke spoke to ESPN.com about his experience as a gay man in the hockey world, and believed his story would help other athletes. His father joined him for a series of follow-up interviews to show his support.
Brendan later told TSN in an interview: "I think it's important my story is told to people because there are a lot of gay athletes out there and gay people working in pro sports that deserve to know there are safe environments where people are supportive regardless of your sexual orientation."
