Former Dallas Stars forward Raymond Sawada sadly passed away on April 10 at the age of 38.

Former NHL forward Raymond Sawada passed away on Monday at just 38 years old.

Sawada reportedly died while playing in a recreational hockey game in British Columbia. Sawada is survived by his wife, Nicole, and their two young daughters. 

A GoFundMe page was created by a friend of the Sawada family. The page has already raised more than $200,000 to help the Sawada family in this time of mourning. 

Since 2017, Sawada was a firefighter for the City of Burnaby, according to the GoFundMe page.

"Ray was such a bright light in the lives he touched," a statement on the page said. "He enjoyed traveling with Nicole, the girls, and family and friends. He was a talented hockey player and a dedicated coach for his girls.

"Ray was passionately driven and motivated in everything he did, and the surrounding community will be left with a void."

Sawada was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the second round of the 2004 NHL draft before going on to complete his four-year tenure at Cornell University. After leaving school, the Richmond, B.C., native would turn pro in the 2007-08 season, suiting up in 10 games for the AHL's Iowa Stars. 

The next season, Sawada made his NHL debut, playing five games for the Dallas Stars and scoring one goal. During and after appearing in 11 games for the Stars across three seasons, Sawada continued his career in the AHL, ECHL, Finland's Liiga, England's EIHL and the Asia League. 

Fellow Richmond native, Calgary Flames defenseman Troy Stecher, called the news heartbreaking in a Twitter post.

"Ray was an idol for a lot of Richmond minor players growing up," Stecher said in the post. "Not only was Ray a successful hockey player, he was a community hero and local firefighter.

"Thoughts and prayers to his family."