Former Kelowna Packers hockey player Pat Mangold, 47, died Saturday night after crashing his jet ski into a log boom on Okanagan Lake near Trader’s Cove.
Mangold was riding his jet ski around 8:30 p.m. when he struck a log boom and was thrown from his personal watercraft.
A nearby boater heard the impact and was able to get Mangold aboard his boat. As a result, he was quickly transported to the shore and then taken to hospital by ambulance; however, he was not able to be resuscitated.
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate the incident. According to Const. Kris Clark, visibility and speed were likely factors in the crash.
Mangold began his WHL career with the Calgary Wranglers in 1981. After two seasons with the Wranglers he moved to the BCJHL Salmon Arm Shuswap Totems.
In 1983 he went back to the Wranglers for two more seasons before eventually playing for the Kamloops Blazers, Kelowna Packers and Cleveland Bombers.
wpaterson@kelownacapnews.com
Twitter: @PatersonWade
