Ballarat's hockey community shocked at Thomas Walton's death

BALLARAT'S hockey community is in shock after the death of teammate Thomas Walton.He was killed on Sunday morning after his car hit a tree at Cardigan.Click here to watch the Victoria Police press conference urging drivers to take more responsibility.Locally, he played for Eureka and Golden City hockey club, while he played state league for WestVic where he played his last game with them against the Melbourne High School Old Boys on Saturday.Eureka and Golden City cancelled its two scheduled games on Sunday, where Thomas was to play.WestVic coach Jason Hargreaves said Thomas' death was a huge shock, especially to his teammates who played with him on Saturday and sat with him on the bus on the way home.``He was fairly easy going and very committed,'' Mr Hargreaves said.``The whole hockey community in Ballarat will be affected.''Eureka and Golden City Club president Jeff Sly paid tribute to a terrific young man, who played his first A-grade game for the club at just 13.``He very rarely missed a game and he just lived to play hockey and being with his mates,'' Mr Sly said.Ballarat High School principal Gary Palmer said the school was deeply saddened by the death of its former student.He said Thomas was remembered by a number of staff at the school, while staff also worked with his father Greg, a teacher at Ballarat Secondary College.``We've got a lot of connections with the family, it's very tragic,'' Mr Palmer said.Thomas' death was one of seven at the weekend and he was one of three aged in their 20s who died.Victoria Police Acting Commissioner Andrew Crisp said police would continue focusing on country areas, which were over-represented in the number of fatalities across the state compared to metropolitan areas.