DENVER – The University of Denver hockey program mourns the loss of alum
Todd Kidd, who passed away on Friday, July 12, 2024 at the age of 49.
"Our Denver hockey family has heavy hearts right now and is in shock from Todd's passing," said Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach
David Carle. "Our alumni are what makes this place so special, and we are devastated by this tragedy. Todd was a fearless defenseman for our team in the late 90's and helped bring DU back into the national spotlight under coach George Gwozdecky and laid the groundwork for what our program is today. Our thoughts are with Todd's family, friends and all of his former teammates during this indescribable time."
Remembering Todd:
A four-year letterwinner on the Pioneers, Kidd played 140 career games from 1995-1999. The defenseman totaled 51 points (8g/43a) while also recording 265 penalty minutes during his time at DU. He recorded a personal-best 15 points (3g/12a) in his senior WCHA season in 1998-99 and had team-high 90 penalty minutes in 1996-97 as a sophomore. Kidd was a four-time member of the WCHA All-Academic Team and represented the league on its All-Star Team in Switzerland in 1999.
"Todd was the most genuinely unique person I knew and likely ever will know," said DU alum
Kevin Ripplinger, who was a teammate of Todd's all four years at Denver. "He was truly a free spirit in the best way possible. I always admired how he remained loyal to who he truly was and how he could weave in and out of his varied interests and friend groups with ease. As big as he was and as menacing as he looked, he was kind to his core and had a good heart. Todd had his own unique language and sayings that anyone who knew him, whether for three hours or three decades, will never forget and will forever quote. Todd was a good, true and lifelong friend. My life was better and more interesting because he was in it. He will not be forgotten."
"Todd was a guy that had a huge personality and heart that attracted a vast net of people and friends," said fellow alum
Shawn Kurulak, who also played four years with Todd at DU. "He was the type of person that literally could meet anyone from any type of background and become great friends. He was always unapologetically himself and people loved that about him. He had his own language and vocabulary that you couldn't help using and laugh hysterically about. He was a great teammate, a great friend and one of a kind. There will never be another cat like him."
From Fort Collins, Colorado, Kidd played three seasons of professional hockey after his time at DU, including suiting up in two American Hockey League contests with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 1999-00. He also played for the Houston Aeros of the International Hockey League and the Florida Everblades and Tallahassee Tiger Sharks of the East Coast Hockey League that year, totaling 201 penalty minutes and 19 points (2g/17a) in 69 ECHL games. He returned to Tallahassee in 2000-01 before finishing his career with the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the West Coast Hockey League in 2001-02.
Kidd died last Friday afternoon, two days after being critically injured while working security at a restaurant in the RiNo neighborhood of Denver in the early evening of July 10.
A memorial service for Todd will be held at the University of Denver's Ritchie Center on
Saturday, Aug. 24 from
2-5 p.m. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in honor of Todd to the
University of Denver Murray Armstrong Men's Hockey Student-Athlete Enhancement Fund. The endowed fund will be used to enhance the student-athlete experience and ensure the long-term success of DU Hockey.
Click here to give.
This story was updated on Tuesday, July 23, 2024
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