Former Vernon Viper Ciocco Passes Away:

Former Vernon Vipers forward Josh Ciocco has recently passed away.

Here is the story from the Vernon Morning Star,

Vernon Vipers, Salmon Arm Silverbacks alum dies at 38 – Vernon Morning Star

Here is the story from Castanet.net,

Former Vernon Vipers winger Josh Ciocco dies suddenly at 38 - Vernon News - Castanet.net

Ciocco was is in his fifth season as an Assistant Coach with Merrimack College.

Ciocco played four seasons at the University of New Hampshire from 2003-2007 before signing his first professional contract in 2006 with the ECHL Wheeling Nailers. Ciocco played two seasons in the ECHL with Wheeling and Fresno before retiring from professional hockey in 2008.

Ciocco got into coaching in 2012. Ciocco spent one season (2012-13) as an Assistant Coach with the Milton Academy varsity hockey team and was a prime contributor to the U.S. Hockey Report. Ciocco joined the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves in 2013 as assistant coach from 2013-2016, before joining Brown University in 2016. Ciocco spent two seasons as an assistant coach with Brown University from 2016-2018 before joining Merrimack College in 2018.

Ciocco suffered and unusual injury post workout in late August 2017. Ciocco became aware that he could not feel or move his leg and went immediately to the hospital.  Doctors diagnosed Josh with something called compartmental syndrome. He had damaged a muscle in his leg so severely portions of the muscle had died and the blood flow to his entire leg had been compromised. He also had a lot of toxins in his blood stream because of the necrosed tissue. Unfortunatley, Josh's kidneys were unable to filter the toxins. Josh has also had two surgery's to deal with the removal of dead muscle tissue.

Ciocco played parts of two years in Vernon from (2001-2002). The Vipers traded Mark Nelson & Tyler Scofield January 10th 2001 to Prince George for Josh Ciocco, Rod Pelley & Dan Rossi. On November 22nd 2002 the Vipers traded Ciocco to Cowichan Valley for Bryan McGregor. In 39 games with the Vipers Ciocco collected (21-goals-24-assists-45-points).

Josh Ciocco's Player-Coaches Profile:

Josh Ciocco - Elite Prospects