Remembering Arunas Bermejo

(Photo by Mark Mauno)

The Western States Hockey League mourns yet another loss with the passing of Arunas Bermejo due to a heart attack on April 26. 

The sudden death took the life of Bermejo all too soon with the 21-year-old starting to make strides in Lithuania with Hockey Punks of the premiere hockey league. 

Bermejo had two stints with the Phoenix Knights. He began his WSHL career with the Knights in 2015-16 scoring 18G-19A-37P in 28 games. The following season, he dressed for the Lake Tahoe Icemen and continued his pace as a point-per-game player clocking in 5G-6A-11P in 12 games. Bermejo then made the move to the Valencia Flyers where he tallied 20 more points (5G-15A) in 22 games. He concluded his WSHL career back with the Knights and was given the assistant captain role for the 2017-2018 season. In that season, Bermejo cashed in 50-points in 47 regular season games (15G-35A) and added six more post season points as the Knights ended their campaign in the Division Finals. 

The Mexican native consistently represented his home country at the World Junior Stage. In 25 international games, Bermejo has posted 14 goals and 16 apples. 

The passing of Bermejo comes shortly after the passing of former Ventura Mariner (1999-2000), Darren Partch, who was found deceased in his Newport Beach, Calif. apartment on April 21. Recent investigation points to Partch being shot to death. 

The Western States Hockey League would like to offer sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Arunas Bermejo and Darren Partch.