The Saskatchewan hockey community is grieving today after news broke of the tragic passing of Nolan Haugen, a player for the Kenaston Blizzards of the Saskatchewan Valley Hockey League.
The announcement sent shockwaves through the tight-knit senior hockey world, with tributes pouring in from teammates, fans, and organizations across the province on May 13, 2026.
The Blizzards organization confirmed the news through an official statement shared on social media, saying the club was “deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Nolan Haugen.” The words were simple but carried the weight of a community blindsided by loss.
In the statement, the organization remembered Haugen as a valued member of the team who would be forever remembered for “his passion, character, and the impact he had on those around him.”
He wore number 8 for the Blizzards, a jersey number the club has since described as forever number one in their hearts.
Haugen is survived by his parents, Tim and Patti, his brothers Michael and Colby, his sister Sophia, and a wide circle of loved ones who are now left to carry the grief of losing someone far too young.
The Blizzards extended their sincere sympathy and support to the Haugen family, acknowledging the unimaginable nature of their loss.
A Player Who Made His Presence Felt
Those who knew Nolan personally have been speaking up in the hours since the news broke, painting the picture of a young man whose personality extended well beyond the ice.
A photographer who regularly covered the Blizzards, Lyndsaye Greke of Shades Photography, shared a heartfelt tribute on Facebook that captured what made Haugen so special to the people around him.
She wrote about the small moments she will never get to experience again, including the conversations shared over the glass between periods, the image of him with his tongue sticking out while lining up a focused shot, and the way he had a habit of quietly appearing from behind the net when no one even saw him coming.
She described him as kind and considerate, and said she was devastated that his time had come to such an abrupt end.
Her words resonated with many because they were not the polished language of an official statement. They were the raw reflection of someone who simply enjoyed knowing him, someone who had no idea that last season would be the last.
A Community United in Grief
The Monday Nooner podcast, a Saskatchewan-based hockey media outlet that focuses on senior hockey across the province, also extended condolences to the Haugen family and the Blizzards organization, adding its voice to a growing chorus of support from across the hockey community.
The Kenaston Blizzards are one of the most decorated clubs in Saskatchewan senior hockey, having won provincial championships in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
But on a day like this, championships feel distant. What the organization and its supporters are focused on right now is honoring a young man who gave everything he had to the team and to the people around him.
Nolan Haugen was more than a hockey player. He was a teammate, a son, a brother, and a friend. His absence will leave a mark that no jersey retirement or moment of silence can fully fill.
