Local hockey player murdered

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: March 22 2019 Strathmore Times

By Janet Kanters Times Editor

Hundreds of people gathered at Kinsmen Park on March 19 to remember Kristian Ayoungman, who was murdered in the early morning on Sunday, March 17. The 24-year-old played in the Wheatland Kings alumni game a mere eight hours before he was killed. Family, friends and teammates held a candlelight vigil to remember the young hockey star. Miriam Ostermann Photo

Hundreds of people gathered at Kinsmen Park on March 19 to remember Kristian Ayoungman, who was murdered in the early morning on Sunday, March 17. The 24-year-old played in the Wheatland Kings alumni game a mere eight hours before he was killed. Family, friends and teammates held a candlelight vigil to remember the young hockey star.
Miriam Ostermann Photo
Just over eight hours after playing in the Wheatland Kings alumni game, a popular 24-year-old former junior B hockey player was found dead early Sunday morning, and now two men are in custody, charged with murder.
Christian William White, better known within the Strathmore and Siksika communities as Kristian Ayoungman, was found shot to death in his car on Highway 817 south of Strathmore at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, March 17.
Ayoungman was a well-known and popular former hockey player with the Wheatland Kings in Strathmore. The 24-year-old grew up playing hockey in the Siksika and Strathmore communities. Most recently, he played hockey with the Siksika Buffaloes senior AA hockey club.
On Saturday night, Ayoungman was one of many former Wheatland Kings who played in the club’s 10-year alumni hockey game at the Strathmore Family Centre arena.
Then later that night, Strathmore RCMP responded to a call of a male who had been shot in his vehicle. Police and EMS arrived on scene and discovered Ayoungman dead in his vehicle.
An autopsy was completed on March 19 by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Calgary. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Kody Allan Giffen (22) and Brandon Daniel Giffen (25) both of Strathmore have been charged with first degree murder. Kody Giffen was remanded into custody after a court appearance and will be appearing in Strathmore Provincial Court on April 2, 2019. Brandon Giffen remains in custody with a court date yet to be determined.
This past Tuesday evening, a candlelight vigil for Ayoungman was held at Kinsmen Park. More than 300 people gathered, many in hockey jerseys, to honour the young man. Many of those who attended the vigil brought balloons and signs featuring photos of Ayoungman.