* This story has been updated
The man shot dead in Cloverdale on Saturday afternoon has been identified as Paul Bennett, a 47-year-old father of two children who coached minor hockey in the area.
Bennett, who worked as an operating-room nurse department manager at Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock, coached the Atom C3 Titans last season, his first as a hockey head coach, according to team manager Tamara Edwards.
鈥淗e was a great coach, son, husband, and father to two boys and a champion for the sport,鈥� Edwards told the Now-Leader in an email Sunday morning.
The shooting happened at around 4 p.m. Saturday (June 23) in the 18200-block of 67A Avenue.
Surrey RCMP fielded a number of calls about shots fired in the Clayton area. When they arrived on scene, officers found a man with gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital, where he died.
To gather evidence, the RCMP鈥檚 Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is now working with its partners from Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and B.C. Coroners Service.
鈥淭his investigation is in its early stages and we need everyone with any information about this homicide to come forward,鈥� stated Corporal Frank Jang, of IHIT, early Sunday.
According to an IHIT news release Sunday afternoon confirming Bennett鈥檚 identity and age, Jang said police believe 鈥渢his was not a random incident. Investigators are working to determine motive.鈥�
鈥淲e are releasing Mr. Bennett鈥檚 name in an effort to determine his activities and who he may have had contact with leading up to the shooting,鈥� Jang said. 鈥淲e need those with information about this murder to come forward and speak with IHIT.鈥�
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551- IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Just this month, Bennett was featured in a video presented by Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, explaining 鈥渢he ABCs of laparoscopic surgery.鈥�
Foundation executive director Stephanie Beck told Black Press Media that Bennett was considered exemplary by foundation staff and hospital staff alike.
鈥淗e was so well-respected in the hospital, a superstar in the OR,鈥� Beck said. 鈥淗e was extraordinary.
鈥淧aul was always the first to volunteer to meet with donors and show them around the OR. He did tours all the time for us.鈥�
Last hockey season, Bennett coached his Titans to a gold medal at a Spring Break tournament in Squamish, where the nine- and 10-year-olds went undefeated and earned first place after an exciting shootout.
鈥淲e had finished dead-last in our local Cloverdale tournament in January, so it was a remarkable turnaround for the kids,鈥� team manager Edwards said at the time.
鈥� READ MORE: .
鈥淵ou can imagine the excitement and pride of the players, as well as the coaches and parents. We fought hard during the season and had some tough turns and managed to pull together in the end to do the unthinkable, and beat every team, win every game, and walk away with the gold.鈥�
Edwards said the team鈥檚 wonderful season involved participating in two parades, including the lighted-truck one in Cloverdale at Christmas and also the 鈥淗ometown Hockey鈥� event at Surrey Civic Plaza.
鈥淔or our head coach, Paul Bennett, it鈥檚 his first turn at being head coach. Our assistant coaches are Christian Len and Rob Lawrence,鈥� she said in March.
Bennett鈥檚 Facebook profile indicates he was originally from Bath, Ontario.
In a statement Sunday morning, Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association president Marty Jones said a 鈥渂eloved member of our Family has been taken from us, a husband, a father, a brother, a friend and a coach.鈥�
Jones鈥� son played on the Titans team coached by Bennett last season.
鈥淲e live life together. We journey, we celebrate, we rally and we grieve. Today is one of those times when we grieve,鈥� Jones wrote in a message posted to .
鈥淧aul Bennett devoted much of the past number of years investing in the lives of the young boys and girls of CMHA.
鈥淭o say Paul has touched the lives of many would be an understatement. I am truly grateful as a first-hand witness of this.
鈥淲e are heartbroken, but our Family needs each other now, and Paul鈥檚 Family needs us.
鈥淚n the days ahead we will look to the best way for our community to rally and support the loved ones he left behind. In the meantime, hug your sons, your daughters, those grieving and reflect on how our lives are enriched by his time with us.
鈥淓ach of you are in my prayers.鈥�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on
