ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – Former Big Red hockey forward Ray Sawada has passed away.

The class of 2008 Cornell alum suffered a cardiac episode Monday while playing recreational hockey in British Columbia. Sawada spent time in the NHL with the Dallas Stars after graduating from Cornell University. Sawada went on to play in a handful of other professional leagues before becoming a firefighter for the City of Burnaby.

A GoFundMe fundraising page has been set up for Sawada’s family. Donations have quadrupled the goal in less than 24 hours.  Sawada was 38.