Aberdeen ice hockey player dies after car crashes into lamppost in America

An Aberdeen-born ice hockey player has died following a one-vehicle crash in America.

Bradly Burden, born in Scotland but raised in Alaska, was a sophomore at Niagara University in New York where he played for the hockey team.

According to local reports, the 22-year-old management student was behind the wheel of the car when the vehicle struck a lamppost and then a fence on Tuesday.

The Aberdonian was ejected from the car and died at the scene.

A second student named Rose Kaminske was taken to hospital but has since been released.

President of Niagara University, Reverend James Maher, said that Bradly brought “a strong spirit of friendship to our campus”.

He added: “His loss is deeply felt by his teammates, classmates, and professors. We hold Bradly’s family in our prayers as they face this unimaginable loss.”

Ice hockey fans in Scotland have also paid tribute to the young defender.

One said: “Very saddened to hear the tragic loss of 22-year-old defenceman Bradly Burden from Aberdeen in Scotland.

“Bradly, also known as Birdy, was in his 2nd year with the Niagara University Purple Eagles in ACHA II.”

His former club, the Hershey Cubs, based in Pennsylvania, described Bradly as a”great person who made everyone smile”.

Their statement read: “We are devastated to announce that on Tuesday morning, we tragically lost a former Hershey Cubs player, Bradly Burden.

“He had a great hockey career, won a national championship in 2024 and a conference championship in 2025. He was loved by all his teammates and was a great person who made everyone smile.”