SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan detective has been assigned
to the case of a missing 20-year-old minor league hockey player who was
last seen a week ago.
Saginaw Spirit center Terry Trafford
reportedly last was seen about 9:30 a.m. on March 3 at the Dow Event
Center, the team’s home arena.
State police were notified Sunday
that Trafford was missing and assigned a detective, Lt. Brian Cole told
The Associated Press Monday.
"It’s still very early in reference
to our part of the investigation," Cole said. "Several things have to be
confirmed and determined. Where was he last seen? Acquaintances he
spoke with? He’s considered a voluntary missing person."
Trafford,
a Toronto native, has been with the Ontario Hockey League team for
several seasons. He’s listed at 5-foot-11 inches and 190 pounds.
Skye
Cieszlak, who said she and Trafford have dated since 2010, told The
Saginaw News he may have been cut from the team before his
disappearance.
"He had gotten into trouble for partying on a road
trip, and they were sending him home for good," Cieszlak, from Michigan,
told the newspaper. "He was devastated."
Trafford sent Cieszlak a
text message on March 2 that said, "his life was over and that he
didn’t want to do it anymore," she told the newspaper.
The Associated Press left a message Monday at Cieszlak’s grandmother’s home seeking comment from
Cieszlak.
Police
in Toronto told the Canadian Press that they have no indication
Trafford has entered Canada. They also were trying to confirm whether
Trafford still was a member of the hockey team, Cole said.
The
Saginaw Spirit issued a statement Monday night saying it was working
with authorities and Trafford’s family to aid in the effort to find him.
"The
disappearance of Terry Trafford is a very difficult situation," said
team President Craig Goslin. "We, along with the Ontario Hockey League,
have been working diligently and doing all that is possible to assist in
the process of locating Terry."
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