Former Brighton Tigers ice hockey star player Mike O’Brien has died at the age of 87.

He passed away in the Martlets hospital on Friday February, 12 with Marion his wife of over 60 years and his son Gary by his bedside.

O’Brien joined the Tiger Cubs aged 13 and went on to play for the Sussex Tigers before beginning his professional career in 1951. His most productive campaign came in the 1954-55 season when he scored 62 points (38 goals) and two winters later he contributed three goals and five assists as the Tigers clinched the league title.

After the pro league collapsed, O’Brien stayed with the squad, amassing 180 points (96 goals) over two seasons as they picked up several cups.

O’Brien scored seven times for Britain in the 1952 World Championships. Eight years later in Switzerland, he scored four points to help his country to silver.

He was elected in the British Ice Hockey hall of in 2009 in what he said ‘was one of the highlights’ of his glistening career.

O’Brien lived for most of his life in Cairo Avenue, Peacehaven with his wife Marion.

In later years, he was always one of the first to be found with a stick and puck whenever Falmer pond froze over.