WHL mourns loss of Tyson Sievert

The Western Hockey League is mourning the loss of former player Tyson Sievert, who died in a highway crash in Saskatchewan on Tuesday.

Sievert, 25, of Earl Grey, was driving alone on Highway 22, about 85 kilometres northeast of Regina, when his vehicle crashed at the Lipton turnoff.

Sievert started his WHL career with the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Saskatoon Blades in 2004 and 2005. He played with the Regina Pats in 2005 and 2006.

Pats President Brent Parker described Sievert as an "honest, hard-working Saskatchewan kid."

Tyler Kifferling said he's having a hard time believing his best friend is gone.

"He always told me to be strong," he said. "So that's what I'm doing."

Kifferling remembers Sievert not only as being gifted athletically, but also for his giving personality.

"If he saw someone not smiling, he felt it was his duty to make him smile."

Even though he was from Earl Grey, Sievert spent a lot of time in nearby Southey.

He was most recently coaching minor hockey players.

The manager of the hockey rink said there will be a memorial tournament honouring Sievert in the coming months.

Funeral services are expected to be in Earl Grey.