The province’s hockey community is mourning the passing of a young hockey player who lost his battle with cancer this week.

J.D. Trainor of Paradise was just 16 years old.

The president of Hockey NL, Dr. Jared Butler, says it’s a very sad time in hockey circles and for the family and friends of the young player.

Today is Hockey Day in Canada, and Butler says it will have a very different feel this year because of Trainor’s untimely death.

He’s asking people to celebrate J.D.’s life, and honour his love for the sport.

“It speaks to J.D.’s character, and the impact he had on so many people,” says Butler.  He battled “through his diagnosis, his surgery, his treatment, and coming back and playing hockey. And not only did he go back and play some games in high school with his home team…he goes back to the U18 AAA league, and plays a few games at our highest level here in this province – The Pinnacle Growlers.”