The Spokane Chiefs would like to extend their condolences to the Gamble family who lost their son, Garrett W. Gamble, while serving in the Marines in Afghanistan. Gamble died after he stepped on a mine-type device while patrolling during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Gamble was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Garrett's father Troy was a goaltender for the Chiefs from 1986-88 winning 53 games in two seasons. In 1987-88, Gamble won the Western Conference's Goaltender of the Year Award while winning 36 games and appearing in a record 67 games. He posted a 3.69 goals against average that season. In total, Troy played four seasons in the WHL including the first two-and-a-half years of his career in Medicine Hat from 1984-86. He won 115 games in total.
Lance Cpl. Gamble was a 2008 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High in Sugar Land, Texas. Gamble, a sportsman and hockey player, first explored joining the U.S. Marines while a junior in high school, his friend Bryce Ritzen said.
"He was a cool guy," Ritzen, who enlisted alongside Gamble in June 2007, said. "Everyone liked Garrett.
"I always felt Garrett was going to be fine," said Ritzen, who is on leave but will return to Afghanistan in a few months. "To lose him ... I felt like I lost my entire family at once."
Gamble is survived by his mother, Michelle Greer; father, Troy; step-father, Brad Greer; and younger brothers Cody Gamble and Gunner Greer.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked donations be made to Houston Marine Moms at houstonmarinemoms.org.
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