TORONTO - The family of a teenaged Toronto hockey player, who recently earned his assistant captain's letter, says he died Monday from the H1N1 virus.
His grieving dad has told the Toronto Sun that Evan Frustaglio, 13, was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital after collapsing at home just before noon Monday.
Paul Frustaglio says the coroner's office Monday night confirmed his son died of the virus. However, independent confirmation from health authorities could not be obtained.
The Mississauga North Stars player was sent home Sunday after being checked at a walk-in clinic for symptoms that first appeared during a weekend hockey tournament in London.
Complaining of a sore neck and throat, Evan didn't get to play much and spoke of not feeling well while dining with friends Saturday.
The swine flu has already claimed 29 lives in Ontario, including several people in the Greater Toronto Area, during the first wave of the pandemic this spring.
"We have another son and Evan was with so many other people," Frustaglio said.
"He was a good boy and for this to happen at age 13 ... ," he said, his voice choking.
His voice also catching, Mississauga North Stars coach Al Reisman said Evan's tragic death devastated teammates and raised fears about H1N1 among the team's 15 families.
Two other players on the AA team were quarantined with symptoms and another boy was treated with Tamiflu serum.
"We're all very, very shocked," said Reisman, adding the right-winger "was a pretty unforgettable kid ... he had the best style.
"There wasn't a more passionate kid about hockey," he said.
"How are we going to deal with these kids?" added Reisman. "I've been a coach for 30 years and I've never, ever been associated with anything like this before."
Reisman said he was released from hospital late Sunday after being given a brain scan and blood tests following a massive headache -- an H1N1 symptom.