PROVIDENCE, RI – Former AHL and NHL hockey player Tom Cavanagh was found dead Thursday in a parking garage in downtown Providence according to published reports.
The Providence Journal reported in its on-line edition Friday night that the body of Cavanagh, 28, was found in the vicinity of Level C of the
Former Worcester / San Jose Sharks forward Tom Cavanagh (photo courtesy of the AHL)
A short story on the AHL’s website acknowledged Cavanagh’s passing Friday night.
The Warwick, RI native was an All-State player at Toll Gate High School in Warwick. It led him to Harvard University where he played on the varsity squad from 2001-2005. He had his best collegiate season in 2003-2004 when he tallied career highs in goals (16), assists (20) and points (36).
A sixth-round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2001, Cavanagh turned pro in the fall of 2005, joining the AHL’s Cleveland Barons. His best AHL years were spent with the Worcester Sharks where he had a combined 46 goals and 92 assists in 202 games in a Sharks jersey between 2006 and 2009. He was called up to San Jose for one game in 2007-2008 and 17 more the following season. In all, he had one goal and two assists in NHL contests.
After being released by the Sharks following the 2008-2009 campaign, Cavanagh signed on with the Manchester Monarchs, the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, as a free agent. He last suited up for the Springfield Falcons this season, playing in five games before being released. He was still recovering from a 2010 shoulder injury and contemplating whether or not to continue his playing career at the time of his death.
ProHockeyNews.com will follow the story and provide further updates as they become available.
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