The Eastern Ontario hockey community is mourning Darrell Campbell, the longtime Embrun Panthers coach and executive whose decades of service helped shape junior hockey across the region.

The Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Campbell’s passing on October 18, 2026, paying tribute to his work as a governor, general manager, and head coach with the Embrun Panthers. The league described him as a respected figure whose dedication had a lasting influence on players, coaches, volunteers, and fellow league executives.

Campbell’s involvement in junior hockey extended across several decades. In addition to his work with the Panthers, he held leadership positions with the former Metcalfe Jets and coached in the National Capital Junior Hockey League.

His death represents a significant loss for an organization and sporting community in which he played a sustained leadership role.

EOJHL Confirms Darrell Campbell’s Passing

In its October 18 announcement, the EOJHL expressed condolences to Campbell’s family, the Embrun Panthers organization, and the many people who worked alongside him throughout his career.

The league highlighted his commitment to junior hockey and his willingness to support colleagues with advice and guidance. Commissioner Marc, quoted in the announcement, described Campbell as a gentleman who provided a steady voice in league discussions and was willing to stand up for what he believed was right.

The statement focused on Campbell’s long service and the relationships he built through hockey. It did not publicly disclose his age, cause of death, or further personal details.

No cause of death should be assumed in the absence of a verified announcement from his family or another authorized source.

A Career Spanning Decades in Junior Hockey

Campbell devoted much of his professional and volunteer life to junior hockey in Eastern Ontario. His responsibilities included coaching players, managing team operations, and contributing to the league’s governance.

At the Embrun Panthers, he served as both general manager and head coach, helping guide the club’s development and competitive direction. His work also included years with the former Metcalfe Jets, where he held several positions within the league structure.

Before his involvement at the Junior B level, Campbell coached in the National Capital Junior Hockey League. That experience added to his longstanding presence in the region’s hockey community.

His career reflected a commitment that went beyond game-day results. According to the EOJHL, his contributions helped provide opportunities for hundreds of young athletes to develop both on and off the ice.

Recognized for Coaching and Leadership

Campbell received recognition from the league on several occasions during his career.

He was named EOJHL Coach of the Year for the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons, reflecting the regard in which his coaching work was held.

In February 2026, the league also named him its Executive of the Year for the 2025-26 season. He received the George Giroux Memorial Award, which recognizes an executive’s dedication, leadership, and contribution to their organization and the EOJHL.

The league’s announcement noted that Campbell had helped the Embrun Panthers reach the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season during the 2025-26 campaign.

The award added to a record of service that included team leadership, player development, and participation in league-wide decisions.

His Impact on the Embrun Panthers

Campbell was a central figure in the Embrun Panthers organization, serving in the demanding dual roles of general manager and head coach.

Those responsibilities required more than preparing a team for competition. They also involved supporting players, helping maintain organizational stability, working with other team officials, and contributing to the development of young athletes.

His long tenure gave him a sustained role in the team’s progress and in its connections with the wider junior hockey community.

The EOJHL’s tribute emphasized that his influence extended beyond wins and losses. Through years of involvement, Campbell helped create opportunities for young players to grow in the sport and develop skills that could serve them beyond the rink.

For the Panthers organization, his passing marks the loss of a leader whose work had become part of the club’s history.

Remembered by League Colleagues and Hockey Peers

In its tribute, the EOJHL highlighted Campbell’s reputation as a supportive colleague who offered advice and shared his perspective on league matters.

The commissioner’s remarks portrayed him as someone who valued fairness and was prepared to speak up when he believed it was necessary. The league also recognized the experience and knowledge he brought to its Board of Governors.

Those qualities helped make Campbell an influential figure beyond his own team. His responsibilities brought him into contact with players, coaches, volunteers, and executives across Eastern Ontario.

The league’s message of condolence reflected the breadth of those relationships and the effect of his long involvement in the sport.

A Lasting Contribution to Youth Hockey

Junior hockey plays an important role in giving young athletes opportunities to compete, learn teamwork, and develop discipline and confidence.

Campbell’s years in coaching and management placed him in a position to influence those experiences for generations of players. The EOJHL credited him with helping hundreds of young athletes develop both as players and as people.

That contribution is part of the legacy the league has emphasized following his death.

Although trophies and awards document some of his achievements, his broader impact can also be seen in the teams he helped lead, the people he mentored, and the regional hockey structure to which he devoted so much time.

As the Embrun Panthers and the wider Eastern Ontario hockey community remember Campbell, his decades of service remain a central part of the story of his life in the sport.

Funeral Arrangements and Family Tributes

As of the league’s October 18 announcement, the public tribute did not include details about Campbell’s age, cause of death, funeral arrangements, or a family obituary.

Those details should be added only if they are confirmed through an authorized statement from his family, a funeral home, or another reliable source.

For now, the EOJHL’s announcement provides the clearest public account of his passing and his contribution to junior hockey.

Key Facts About Darrell Campbell

Disclaimer

This article is based primarily on the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s official announcement published October 18, 2026, and its February 2026 report recognizing Campbell’s leadership. The league confirmed his passing and documented his hockey career, but the announcement did not provide his age, cause of death, or funeral arrangements. This article does not speculate about those details.