Former Ice Hockey Player Wade Macleod Dies at 38 After Battle with Cancer
[City,State] – September 18,2024 – Wade Macleod,a former professional ice hockey player who competed in Germany and Europe,has died at the age of 38 following a long battle with cancer. The news was announced Wednesday by his wife, Karly Macleod, on Instagram.
Macleod played for Starbulls Rosenheim and Löwen Frankfurt in Germany, scoring 25 goals and assisting on 24 others in 56 games during the 2017-2018 DEL2 season with Frankfurt. He also had a connection to the Dresden Eislöwen, signing a contract with the team in 2018, though he never played a game for them due to a cancer diagnosis.
Macleod’s fight with the disease began in 2013 with an aggressive form of cancer. He faced another brain tumor diagnosis in 2016, which was initially persistent to be benign, while preparing to move from Rosenheim to Frankfurt.He successfully returned to play, joining the Löwen Frankfurt in 2017.
Following a period where the cancer was considered defeated in 2019, Macleod continued his career, playing for Manchester Storm in England and later in Norway before retiring in 2022 to spend more time with his family.
Tragically, the cancer returned in September 2023, after Macleod suffered a stroke during a camping trip. Approximately 60% of the tumor tissue was removed during surgery, but the prognosis remained guarded. He underwent a total of six operations.
Fans and teams rallied around Macleod during his illness, with fundraisers organized in Frankfurt and Dresden to support his treatment. the Dresden Eislöwen notably kept his planned jersey number, 19, available and reserved a place for him on the roster for the 2019/2020 season.
Macleod is survived by his wife, Karly, and daughters Ava and Georgia. A moment of silence is planned before Thursday’s DEL game between the Löwen Frankfurt and the Dresden Eislöwen to honor his memory.
(Image: ner press photo /Imago)