Josh Ciocco, a former player for the Vernon Vipers, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday at the age of 38.
“The demise of former Viper Josh Ciocco has deeply saddened the Vernon Vipers. We would like to send our sympathies to Josh’s family, friends, and the @MC Athletics team, where he served as an assistant coach “The BCHL team in the area tweeted.
Ciocco was beginning his fifth season with Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts.
The college stated on its website that both the Merrimack community and men’s hockey programme “are deeply grieved” by the passing.
“Josh was … tireless in recruiting talented and dedicated student-athletes to Merrimack, and equally passionate in his commitment to coaching them to reach their greatest potential,” the college said.
Previously, Ciocco worked as an assistant coach at the University of Alaska in Anchorage and Brown University.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire in 2007, where he played hockey for four years and served as captain of the Wildcats in his senior year.
He played in the ECHL for two seasons with the Wheeling Nailers and Fresno Falcons before returning to UNH in 2010 to complete his MBA.
Josh’s parents, brothers, and all players and coaches for the Merrimack men’s hockey team are all being offered our prayers and sincere sympathies, the college said.
As a right winger in the BCHL, Ciocco played for the Prince George Spruce Kings, Cowichan Valley Capitals, Salmon Arm Silverbacks, and Vernon Vipers.
