* 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.

含羞草研究社淗e was a great coach, son, husband, and father to two boys and a champion for the sport,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) is now working with its partners from Surrey RCMP, the Integrated Forensic Identification Services and B.C. Coroners Service.

含羞草研究社淭his investigation is in its early stages and we need everyone with any information about this homicide to come forward,含羞草研究社� stated Corporal Frank Jang, of IHIT, early Sunday.

According to an IHIT news release Sunday afternoon confirming Bennett含羞草研究社檚 identity and age, Jang said police believe 含羞草研究社渢his was not a random incident. Investigators are working to determine motive.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淲e are releasing Mr. Bennett含羞草研究社檚 name in an effort to determine his activities and who he may have had contact with leading up to the shooting,含羞草研究社� Jang said. 含羞草研究社淲e need those with information about this murder to come forward and speak with IHIT.含羞草研究社�

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 含羞草研究社渢he ABCs of laparoscopic surgery.含羞草研究社�

Foundation executive director Stephanie Beck told Black Press Media that Bennett was considered exemplary by foundation staff and hospital staff alike.

含羞草研究社淗e was so well-respected in the hospital, a superstar in the OR,含羞草研究社� Beck said. 含羞草研究社淗e was extraordinary.

含羞草研究社淧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.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淲e had finished dead-last in our local Cloverdale tournament in January, so it was a remarkable turnaround for the kids,含羞草研究社� team manager Edwards said at the time.

含羞草研究社� READ MORE: .

含羞草研究社淵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.含羞草研究社�

Edwards said the team含羞草研究社檚 wonderful season involved participating in two parades, including the lighted-truck one in Cloverdale at Christmas and also the 含羞草研究社淗ometown Hockey含羞草研究社� event at Surrey Civic Plaza.

含羞草研究社淔or our head coach, Paul Bennett, it含羞草研究社檚 his first turn at being head coach. Our assistant coaches are Christian Len and Rob Lawrence,含羞草研究社� she said in March.

Bennett含羞草研究社檚 Facebook profile indicates he was originally from Bath, Ontario.

In a statement Sunday morning, Cloverdale Minor Hockey Association president Marty Jones said a 含羞草研究社渂eloved member of our Family has been taken from us, a husband, a father, a brother, a friend and a coach.含羞草研究社�

Jones含羞草研究社� son played on the Titans team coached by Bennett last season.

含羞草研究社淲e live life together. We journey, we celebrate, we rally and we grieve. Today is one of those times when we grieve,含羞草研究社� Jones wrote in a message posted to .

含羞草研究社淧aul Bennett devoted much of the past number of years investing in the lives of the young boys and girls of CMHA.

含羞草研究社淭o say Paul has touched the lives of many would be an understatement. I am truly grateful as a first-hand witness of this.

含羞草研究社淲e are heartbroken, but our Family needs each other now, and Paul含羞草研究社檚 Family needs us.

含羞草研究社淚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.

含羞草研究社淓ach of you are in my prayers.含羞草研究社�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on