Marchessault makes heartbreaking announcement during jersey retirement.

It is impossible not to feel for National Hockey League star Jonathan Marchessault and his family, and unfortunately it comes at a time that should have been a cause for celebration.

Over the weekend the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League held a jersey retirement ceremony for one of the most decorated players in the franchises history, the aforementioned Jonathan Marchessault. It was a wonderful ceremony put on by the Remparts, one that saw Marchessault's number 18 raised up to the rafters where it will remain forever.

Unfortunately, unbeknownst to many, there was a dark cloud hanging over the head of the NHL star the entire time.

While Marchessault was no doubt grateful that his number was being retired, his mind was elsewhere as his family was going through a terrible tragedy and was in mourning. Marchessault himself would reveal the information when speaking to reporters who were on hand, announcing that his mother had died just 24 hours earlier.

"It's difficult," admitted Marchessault who was understandably distraught. "I learned that I lost my mother yesterday morning. It's been 24 hours so it's very difficult not only for me but for my entire family."

Marchessault's comments about his mother were truly heartbreaking and really drove home just how difficult and bittersweet this moment must have been for him.

"Anyone who knew my mother knows that a moment like the one today would have been one of the best moments of her entire life," said an emotional Marchessault. 

Marchessault admitted that the ceremony was difficult for him, knowing how much his mother would have loved to share in the moment.

"That's what is so sad," said Marchessault. "She would have really loved to see it, to see her name raised to the top of the Videotron Centre."

Making the moment even more difficult for Marchessault is the fact that his mother played such an important role in his career early on.

"She was so good to me, she was incredible," said Marchessault. "It's horrible."

In spite of all of that, Marchessault did take some solace in the fact that he knows his mother would have wanted him and his family to cherish the moment together.

"It's part of life," admitted Marchessault. "She would have wanted us to be here as a family, so that's why we went through with it."

A truly awful tragedy at an awful time. My most sincere condolences go out to Jonathan Marchessault and the entire Marchessault family.