VANCOUVER -- Vancouver Canuck forward Taylor Pyatt says he appreciates the support he has received from the NHL team and its fans following the death of his fiance in a car accident.

Carly Bragnalo died April 2 while on vacation in Jamaica. Pyatt and Bragnalo were to be married this summer.

"I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and the entire Canucks organization for their tremendous compassion and support during this very difficult time for myself, my family and the entire Bragnalo family," Pyatt said in a release Friday.

"I would also like to thank the passionate fans of the Canucks for their support and the media who have given us the respect and time to grieve in private. I loved Carly very much. My family and I will forever miss her. At this difficult time for our families it is my wish to not speak about our loss publicly."

Pyatt has returned from his hometown of Thunder Bay, Ont. He missed the final five games of the regular season and did not play during the Canucks four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues in the opening round of the playoffs.

Pyatt had 10 goals and nine assists in 69 regular season games.