Hamilton’s junior hockey community has been shocked to learn than Luke Zupan, the 20-year-old captain of the Junior B Ancaster Avalanche, was found dead at his west Mountain home on Wednesday night.

“His family says he passed away in his sleep,” said Avalanche public address announcer and social media liaison Glen Cuthbert. “The family has asked for privacy.”

Avalanche head coach and general manager Ryan Kuwabara said it’s a very emotional time for the team.

“It doesn’t seem real,” Kuwabara said.

He’s trying to arrange for grief counselors from the Ontario Hockey Association to meet with the players later today in their dressing room at Morgan Firestone Arena.

The team had been slated to practice from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. but it’s unlikely there will be an official practice although some players may opt to skate.

Avalanche president Kelly Barber said the St.Thomas More graduate was very popular with his teammates.

“That was one of the reasons we made him captain last year, he had the respect of all the players, not just on the ice but in the dressing room,” said Barber. “He was a very good person.”

Barber said their game in Pelham on Friday night and their home game against St. Catharines on Saturday have been postponed.

Barber said a team tribute is in the works and they will be holding a moment of silence for Zupan at their Sept. 24 home game against Fort Erie.

The team is also looking to have Zupan’s number 11 put on the ice in time for that game and it will remain there for the rest of the season.

Zupan was in his third full season with the Avalanche.

He also played a season with the Stoney Creek Warriors before the team moved to Ancaster for the 2013-2014 season.

Over that time he scored 27 goals and added 68 assists and 252 penalty minutes.