Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final is one of the last things on Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Kris Letang's mind.
The rookie blueliner arrived at practice with a heavy heart on Friday after learning that former junior teammate Luc Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle accident the day before.
"I've lost my best friend," a very emotional Letang told reporters. "I've lost all my energy since I heard, I couldn't skate out there."
Letang was Bourdon's roommate for two seasons with the Val d'Or Foreurs in the Quebec Major Junior League, and the two played together on Canada's gold-medal winning team at the 2006 world junior championship in Vancouver.
The 21-year-old defenceman, who always stayed in close contact with Bourdon, knew that his friend had recently purchased a motorcycle.
"I spoke to him three days ago when he got the bike," he said. "He liked things like skidoo's and sport cars."
Letang even planned to buy a motorcycle this week after Bourdon had told him about his, but it's something he obviously won't do now or ever. "We talked about it," he said. "It was dangerous. I know he didn't speed, I guess he made a bad move.you don't get any second chances out there."
RCMP investigators said Friday that Bourdon's inexperience with motorcycles may have played a role in the accident.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said a moment of silence will be observed prior to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup final between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. "The National Hockey League family grieves with the family, friends and teammates of Luc Bourdon," Bettman said in a statement from Pittsburgh.