Left to right: Keith, Nancy, Annalyn, Kraig
1995
Kraig Leochko was born in Princeton, BC in December, 1994 to Danelle “Dani” Grothe and Darrell Leochko, and had 3 older siblings: Keith (age 8), Nancy (age 7), and Annalyn (age 5). The kids were initially furious about this, but they soon fell in love with him because Kraig was so lovable. The family moved three times in their years in Princeton, creating many memories in each home that they lived in.
Kraig was an avid sports player from birth, regularly sent to the position of goalie for street hockey, catcher for baseball, and getting thrown around while wrestling with his older brother Keith.
His initial love for sports came from watching his older brother and father play.
Kraig ~1999, pictured NOT wearing a jersey from his favourite NHL team
As he grew, Kraig continued to engage in every sport that he was tall enough to play: hockey, baseball, golf, ball hockey, soccer, and even basketball. However, his main passion and heart lay with hockey, especially in his formative years.
Kraig continued throughout his school years to play hockey, however, he moved to Osoyoos to play on a team more advanced than his hometown could offer for a season. He played with the Osoyoos team for 3 seasons while in high school. While playing in the minor hockey league there, he was able to play a game for the local Junior B team, the Osoyoos Coyotes.
His love of hockey continued after high school and he chose to, and was signed to play on his hometown team, the Princeton Posse, for two seasons. Kraig was the first hometown player signed to the Posse in approximately 5 years and did his best to make his team, his town, his family and himself proud.
After his final season on the Posse, Kraig moved to Victoria from 2014-2016 and lived with his sister Annalyn. During this time he attended Camosun College for kinesiology and explored Vancouver Island.
For reasons, Kraig was unable to finish his degree and moved from Victoria to Calgary where he lived for a few years.
While in Calgary he lived and worked with his brother Keith, and would regularly visit his sister Nancy and her partner Richard.
Kraig moved from Calgary in 2019 and in the following year lived in Kelowna, Burnaby, Penticton, and OK Falls, before settling in Princeton again in 2021 where he had the joy of living with one of his ‘second families’, the Johnsons.
Left to right: Keith, Dani, Nancy, Kraig, Annalyn.
Christmas 2015
Kraig ~2020
The living arrangement with the Johnsons allowed him to be ‘neighbours’ with his mother Dani, which delighted them both to no end.
Kraig was able to spend ample time with his father Darrell during this time as well, making sure to visit him and his ‘Bubba’, uncles, aunty and cousin whenever he had the opportunity.
Kraig maintained friendships from his childhood and fostered new ones throughout school, sports, work, and life; friendship was important to him, and he strived to show his appreciation and love for his chosen family.
He will be remembered and deeply missed by every person that knew him.