The hockey world is reverberating with sadness after learning that Jason Botchford, who worked for The Province from 2005 until 2018, has died. He was 48.
Botchford died at home on the weekend; the news was confirmed by his family on Wednesday morning.
Originally from Ontario, Botchford joined The Province as a news reporter in 2005 but quickly moved into sports and covered the Vancouver Canucks until leaving for The Athletic website last summer. He also worked in radio for TSN 1040 and made regular appearances on TSN’s That’s Hockey.
His death was first reported Wednesday morning and reaction was swift, with tributes pouring forth from not just Vancouver but across the Canadian hockey spectrum.
“Jason Botchford’s family is sad to announce that Jason has died of apparent heart failure. Jason was a highly respected hockey journalist, prominent in the Vancouver area and across Canada for his coverage of the Vancouver Canucks and the National Hockey League for The Athletic Vancouver and for TSN radio and television,” his family said in a statement.
Ben Kuzma, who covered the Canucks for a decade with Botchford at The Province, was quick to praise Botchford for his outspoken instincts.
“In 10 years on the Canucks beat with Jason, I can tell you this much: He hit the career grand slam. Like him, or dislike him, you always read him,” he tweeted.
