Nick Egan was a rare breed.
He was mature beyond his 21 years, with a strong sense of responsibility and a commitment to his fiancée, Bri.
He led by example, playing a safe, responsible game on the ice, and treating people properly off it.
Some junior hockey players have a tendency to be standoffish and get wrapped up in their own world. The hockey culture gets to them.
Nick wasn't like that. He was a kind, gentle person who wouldn't hurt a fly, despite being a fearsome enforcer when he got his skates on.
We reporters don't often get to know players well, and I wouldn't say I knew Nick well. However, I knew him well enough to know that he was different. He was a pleasure to deal with, willing to do interviews win or lose, even when he was on the bike.
He commanded the respect of others and gave it in return, and he was a coach's dream.
When Nick first came to the Bruins in 2013, he was playing at his football weight and it affected his mobility.
When he came back last year, he had made a serious commitment to getting back in shape for hockey, and the difference was massive. He was far more effective, his skating had improved and he added a significant offensive dimension to his game.
I believe he would have been named Bruins captain if he hadn't been away for professional tryouts at the start of the season. He certainly was captain material, having worn the C with the Philadelphia Revolution before coming to Canada.
At the team's year-end banquet this year, Nick was a slam-dunk winner of the Rocky Award, along with R.T. Rice. The award goes to a player who demonstrates a gritty and hard-working attitude on the ice; a player who is a physical presence in every game and is respected by his teammates, coaches and fans.
Well, that description sums up Nick to a T.
Nick was devoted to his fiancée Bri, even leaving the team briefly before Christmas last year when her mother was battling cancer. From afar, they seemed to be the perfect couple. It's hard to imagine more devastating news.
When Egan first joined the Bruins, they weren't really sure what they were getting. It's safe to say he left Estevan a better place than he found it.
Rest easy.
Contact Josh Lewis at 306-634-2654 or sports@estevanmercury.ca. You can also tweet him at @joshlewis306. Do yourself a favour and watch Nikolai Kulemin's Ice Bucket Challenge video.
