Matthew Hutchinson, 24, was the victim of what police are calling a murder-suicide in New York. Hutchinson, a Vancouverite, was a defenseman with the NCAA Div. III SUNY-Geneseo Knights. He played junior hockey in the BCHL and was a volunteer firefighter in B.C. and Geneseo.

The Hockey News

The hockey world is mourning the loss of Matthew Hutchinson, a defenseman who was playing this season with the NCAA Div. III SUNY-Geneseo Knights.

Hutchinson, 24, was one of two victims of a murder-suicide at a house near the campus of SUNY-Geneseo, which is just south of Rochester, N.Y. Hutchinson and 21-year-old Kelsey Annese were stabbed to death, and police believe the murders occurred while both were asleep.

The Canadian Press reported investigators in the case believe 24-year-old Colin Kingston acted alone in murdering both Hutchinson and Annese. Police said Kingston was distraught over a breakup between he and Annese and used a “large knife” to stab Hutchinson and Annese. According to The Canadian Press, Kingston called his father before killing himself. His father notified police.

Before attending SUNY-Geneseo, Hutchinson, a native of North Vancouver, B.C., spent three seasons in junior leagues in B.C. and Manitoba. He broke into the BCHL with the Surrey Eagles in 2008-09 and became a regular with the Quesnel Millionaires in 2009-10, but ended that campaign with the OCN Blizzard of the MJHL. He would return to the BCHL the following season, however, and played parts of two seasons with the Coquitlam Express before finishing his BCHL tenure with the Chilliwack Chiefs. He also won an inline hockey world championship in 2012 with Team Canada.

"We are deeply sadened to hear the news of Matthew's passing," BCHL commissioner John Grisdale said in a statement. "He was a hockey player that worked extremely hard to earn the opportunities he got in the game. His former coaches and teammates remember him fondly and I know he will be missed.”

Hutchinson came to SUNY-Geneseo in 2012-13 and had appeared in 63 games over the past four seasons. He scored his only NCAA goal in 2014-15, and managed nine points during his time with the Knights.

In the off-season, Hutchinson was a volunteer firefighter with British Columbia Wildfire Services and he continued on with the Geneseo Fire Department. In a quote of Hutchinson’s posted to the Knights Twitter, he explained he enjoyed firefighting because it was fun and added that it gave him the opportunity to learn new things and meet new people.

“Giving back to the community is great,” the quote from Hutchinson reads. “But I love working with all of these new people and doing the job for and with them is the best part.”

While at Geneseo, Hutchinson majored in geography with a minor in business studies.

The Coquitlam Express will hold a moment of silence for Hutchinson before their Jan. 22 game, and the Chilliwack Chiefs will follow suit Jan. 30.

(Image via KWPhotography)