Former hockey enforcer Sasha "Pit Bull" Lakovic has died following a year-long battle with brain cancer.
The 45-year-old spent time with the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils along with 15 different minor league teams in the AHL and ECHL during a career that spanned a dozen years and over a 100 fights.
Yesterday, Sasha's brother Greg Lakovic reached out to Don Cherry and coaches corner regarding Sasha losing his battle with a brain tumor.
Hey grapes. Greg lakovic here. My brother sasha lakovic is losing battle against cancer. Could you say few words on coaches corner for us
— Veso Lakovic (@veso_lakovic) April 24, 2017
Condolences continue to arrive from the hockey community in response to news.
R.I.P. Sasha Lakovic. Condolences to his family
— Milan Lucic (@27MilanLucic) April 25, 2017
Lakovic also worked as an actor, playing a small role in the 2004 hockey movie Miracle as Russian player Boris Mikhailov.
#RIP to my teammate and friend Sasha Lakovic
— Vashi Nedomansky (@vashikoo) April 25, 2017
Worked with him on #Miracle after our hockey careers
Here he is with Kurt Russell #HerbBrooks pic.twitter.com/Ng1DHZKhD7
In 2015 during an interview with the CBC, Lakovic described how detrimental concussions from his playing days have been on his post hockey life.
After growing up in East Vancouver, Lakovic had been living in West Kelowna with his wife and four children.
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