Plume fondly remembered; former Hurricanes defenceman passes away

By Herald on January 22, 2021.

Former Lethbridge Hurricanes defenceman Clay Plume passed away earlier this week. Lethbridge Hurricanes photo

Dale Woodard
Lethbridge Herald
sports@lethbridgeherald.com
A well-liked, solid defenceman who played the game the right way.
That is how former Lethbridge Hurricane blue-liner Clay Plume is remembered by athletic therapist Gord Watt.
Plume, a product of Standoff, passed away Tuesday at the age of 37.
Plume played for the Hurricanes in the Western Hockey League from 2001 to 2004 and had spent the past two seasons with the Fort Macleod Mustangs of the Ranchland Hockey League.
A cause of death was not made public.
As the athletic therapist for the Hurricanes in the early-2000s, Watt had a good glimpse of Plume both on and off the ice.
“I love Plumer,” he said. “He was a really good guy. He played the game hard and he played honest. He was really well-liked in the dressing room.”
Judging by the incoming messages and texts Watt received Thursday as word of Plume’s passing spread, that same feeling was felt by Plume’s teammates world-wide, including former Hurricane Martin Podlesak from the Czech Republic.
“Just today I’ve had four people message me from all over the world (asking) ‘What happened to Plumer? He was such a good guy,’” said Watt. “He had a great sense of humour, he was a good guy to be around.”
Watt recalled a day the Hurricanes headed out to Kainai for a practice.
“He was pretty proud to have the team skating out there,” he said. “It’s just horribly sad, we lose a young life.”
The Hurricanes posted a tribute to Plume on their Twitter page Thursday.
“The #WHLCanes are deeply saddened by the loss of former player, Clay Plume. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and teammates. Clay will be greatly missed. #RIPClay #ForeverACane.”
Plume played three games for the Lethbridge Y Men U18 AAA team of the Alberta Midget Hockey League in 1999-2000 before suiting up with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in 2000-01, posting 16 assists in 59 games.
In his first season with the Canes in 2001-02, Plume scored two goals and 15 points in 56 games and increased those totals to eight goals and 18 points in 56 games in 2002-03.
He split the 2003-04 season between the Hurricanes and the Prince George Cougars, scoring seven goals and 21 points in 44 games in Lethbridge and five goals and 11 points in 25 games in Prince George.
Plume capped off that season with the Charlotte Checkers of the East Coast Hockey League, posting two assists in eight games.
After playing with the Dayton Bombers in 2004-05, Plume began a six-year run in the Central Hockey League with the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, Rocky Mountain Rage, Rapid City Rush and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
In 2018-19 Plume joined the Kainai Braves of the RHL before spending the last two seasons in Fort Macleod.
In 2019-20, Plume had one goal and eight points in 13 games with the Mustangs.
The RHL posted a message via Facebook Wednesday.
“It is with heavy heart that we announce Clay Plume passed away in his home in Lethbridge. Ranchland Hockey League would like to send our condolences out to the Plume family, friends and team.”
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