Devastated to hear the passing of my friend Bruce McCurdy. He was an absolute gem of a person who was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about hockey and local sports. Had the pleasure of meeting him many times over the years and getting to know him. I’ll miss our hockey and non-hockey chats and exchanges.

To me, Bruce was the unofficial historian of the Edmonton Oilers – someone who could recall intricate details about the team’s history, the players, the games. What made Bruce stand out was his ability to give the context around the team and what was happening at the time of the events. He could recall what the fans were feeling, what was being written about the team, and what else was happening in the league. He always helped paint a picture and helped you feel more connected to the Edmonton Oilers – more than what anyone else could. I think that’s why this feels like such a loss for local fans.

His ability to blend words, numbers and ideas so effectively was a huge influence on me and others, and is going to be deeply missed. He was willing to engage with others and challenge others. He brought forward well-informed ideas and opinions, and was always open to new ideas. He was a great hockey writer, making his loss even more profound. He’ll always be an iconic figure in the Oilers blogosphere.

Bruce was incredibly supportive of me and my work over the years. He was very encouraging, especially early on, and willing to share my work and give me feedback. What I appreciated most about Bruce was when he’d reach out to correct something I had written or something I might have missed. He’s a big reason why I’ve been writing for this long and willing to take risks along the way. I owe a lot of my success to Bruce.

Condolences to his family and those feeling his loss.