‘He’ll be with us all forever’: Teammates mourn Niagara student killed in crash

LEWISTON, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Niagara University community is mourning the loss of 22-year-old Bradly Burden, who was tragically killed in a car crash in Niagara Falls early Tuesday morning. School leaders and Bradly's hockey team spoke about who he was -- and the impact he had on those around him. "He was one of those teammates you need on every team, he was one of those friends you need in every life," said Peyton Abbott. City officials said the crash happened around 1 a.m. Tuesday at Main Street and Cleveland Avenue. Burden was driving when the car spun out, hitting a light pole and then a fence. Burden was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. Burden's girlfriend, 20-year-old Rose Kaminske, was in the passenger seat. She was sent to ECMC and has since been released. "We know there was snowy conditions the morning of, we know there was ice on the road. We think the combination of things contributed to this tragedy," said Christopher Sheffield, vice president of student affairs at Niagara University. The university says it is in close contact with both families and is offering support -- including counseling services for the entire university. "He really was a shining star in our community and that impact was deeply felt by his friends, particularly those on the men's club hockey team," said Sheffield. Bradly was a sophomore from Alaska. Being over 4,000 miles from home, his teammates said they quickly became family. "I think this tragedy just brought this group together forever ... I look at every single one of these guys as my brothers," said Benji Orgil. "We wouldn't be where we are as a team without him." "We're all just remembering the good times and trying to take it a little bit at a time, and, you know, heal together," said Mario Smith. Those close to him say it was the person Bradly was off the ice that set him apart. "There was just no one like him," said Ethan Knauf. "For the people lucky enough to meet him, I think everyone would agree that he was really just someone you loved to be around," said Aiden Waters. "He never didn't have a smile on his face," Orgil said. "He was just a ball of light. Even when one of us was down, he'd find a way to pick us back up." "No matter what we were going through, he was always just there," Abbott said. "We all called him 'Burd.' He would always say to me, 'No matter what happens, the bird always flies home to the nest,' and I think that really sums him up as a person," Waters said. Bradly's coach said the heart he brought to everything he did will be carried on by his teammates forever. "I can't even think about stepping on the ice without him. But the way I know these guys that are here, they'll never step on the ice without him," said Niagara head coach Sean Casilio. "I know he's gonna be proud of his teammates ... we're always gonna remember him here." "He touched a lot of people, made a lot of people's lives better," Orgil said. "I'm happy to say that I knew him and he was a part of my life, and I wouldn't want it any other way," Waters said. "He'll be with us all, forever," Smith said.