Man dies after falling during rec hockey game in Wake Forest

Michael Twiss was playing in a recreational ice hockey game at the Polar Ice House in Wake Forest with his sons Monday night when he went head first into the boards and died.

Twiss was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Tuesday they do not know whether he died from impact or if he had a heart attack or other medical issue.

A friend and teammate created a GoFundMe page which described Twiss as a family man who loved hockey, and loved playing with his sons.

"While most of us know him because of hockey, his influence stretches beyond just that community. He was always outspoken and fiercely competitive and most of us will choose to remember him as a fighter, a leader, and a friend," the page says.

The general manager of the Polar Ice House said Twiss was wearing a helmet at the time of the fall.

No foul play is suspected.