The hockey community mourns the devastating loss of a longtime captain

The Denver Pioneers made a heartfelt announcement today, as former Pioneers Captain and 100-point forward Bruce Hill passed away at the age of 60.

Hill's career with the Pioneers saw him play 137 games with the University of Denver, and he would play for the school from 1984-88.

He wouldn't earn the Captain's patch until the 1987-88 season, and during his senior campaign, he would earn the Dr. Ralph Verploeg Most Inspirational Player award that year.

The Old, Albertan-born forward would provide a spark for the DU Pioneers, and he'd push them to their first NCAA final in 13 years, as a sophomore during the 1986 season. They'd make a trip to the quarterfinals again, Cornell, handily defeating them and heading to the semifinals to battle it out.

He'd record career highs during the 1986-87 campaign, scoring 30 points (14-16) and scoring 3 short-handed goals that year too. His entire career, he'd score short-handed five times, placing him fourth in DU history for short-handed goals scored.

Before joining DU, he played for the Old Grizzlys in Alberta from 1982-84 and was selected by the NHL's Hartford Whalers 236th overall in the 12th round of the 1985 NHL Draft.

Afterwards, he'd earn his bachelor's degree in Computer Science and would become an assistant coach for the Pioneers after his hockey career ended. After he graduated from DU, he founded a computer business with partner Bill Carlson, and it would last two decades.

Hill was born on May 17th, 1965, in Lethbridge, Alberta, and would spend the last six years of his life before being diagnosed with early-onset dementia.

Such a tragic loss for someone who has passed away before his time.

We send our deepest condolences to Bruce Hill's family and friends.