Winterton returns to Kraken after brother’s death

Seattle Kraken center Ryan Winterton has returned to the team after taking a leave of absence to be with family following the death of his older brother Jacob Winterton.

Jacob Winterton, who played two seasons of junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League and then four seasons of college hockey at the University of Guelph in Ontario, died after a battle with cancer. He was 25.

“I think it means a lot to the group,” Kraken head coach Lane Lambert said Thursday of Ryan Winterton’s return. “It’s good to see him back. Obviously just a sad and very difficult situation for him and his family. I think there’s some closure for him now, which helps somewhat. And it’s nice to see him back.”

Ryan Winterton posted a tribute to his older brother on his Instagram account last week, according to The Hockey News.

“Today I lost my best friend,” Ryan Winterton wrote underneath a photo of them together as children on a backyard hockey rink. “You weren’t just someone I loved, you were someone I looked up to, someone who guided me, believed in me, and helped shape the person I am today. Watching you fight so hard and still having to say goodbye is a pain that never really fades.”

Ryan Winterton, 22, has four goals and 14 assists in 62 games this season. He’s in his third season with the Kraken after being selected by Seattle as a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.

Ryan Winterton last played for the Kraken on March 17. It’s unclear when he’ll return to the lineup. Lambert noted that he hasn’t skated for 13 days.

“He’s a big piece of our team,” Lambert said. “He’s played some good hockey for us this year, and we’ve missed him since he’s been gone.”

With nine games left in the regular season, the Kraken are among a large group of teams batting for the Western Conference’s two wild card playoff spots.

The Utah Mammoth (82 points) and Los Angeles Kings (78 points) currently hold the two wild card spots, followed by the San Jose Sharks (77 points), Nashville Predators (77 points), Winnipeg Jets (76 points), the Kraken (75 points) and the St. Louis Blues (74 points).

The Kraken host the Mammoth at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Jacob Winterton, brother of Kraken center Ryan Winterton, dies of cancer

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