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Michigan Town Mourns Teen, Hockey Captain, Who Died In His Sleep

GRANDVILLE (WWJ) A west Michigan community came together at a memorial service to remember a popular student-athlete who died suddenly last week.

Grandville high school hockey co-captain Ryan Fischer died in his sleep of an enlarged heart Friday morning just hours before a playoff game versus Detroit Catholic Central.

Supt. Ron Caniff said the memorial will speed up the healing process.

"It's giving our community an opportunity to get together and celebrate Ryan's life, and that's what this is intended to be, a celebration," Caniff said.

With his athletic prowess and a 4-point grade point average, the 17-year-old had been expected to enroll at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

There was a mixture of laughter and tears at the podium, as friends and teammates remembered the young man. Even a hockey competitor, Andy Worzniak, came out in support.

"If it was one of my teammates, I would want everybody to come out in support," Worzniak explained.

It's been a rough week at the school, a funeral is set for this week for another student who died of cancer.

 

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