Former Canadian hockey player Giovanni Michael Robinson, known affectionately as Mike to family and friends, tragically lost his life during a golf trip, just six weeks after the joyous arrival of his first daughter and a mere week before his sister's wedding. Robinson was fatally shot in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, September 24, as confirmed by the Sheboygan Falls Police Department in a poignant statement. He was just 32 years old.
"At this time, no suspects have been apprehended, and the motive behind this senseless act remains under investigation," the statement read, with a solemn promise. "The department is steadfast in its commitment to utilize all available resources to apprehend those responsible and hold them accountable for their actions."
Mike was shot shortly after midnight as he made his way back to his Wisconsin hotel following a round of golf at the prestigious Whistling Straits Golf Course, where he had just celebrated a remarkable achievement—his first-ever hole-in-one. "He was a truly remarkable man, an incredible brother," Mike’s brother Jacob shared with Milwaukee’s TMJ4 on Thursday, September 25. "He was an even more extraordinary husband and was destined to be an amazing dad. He was brimming with excitement at the prospect of fatherhood."
Jacob's voice trembled with emotion as he continued, "This senseless act has robbed us of so much. Not only have we lost a brother, but a son, a husband, and now my little niece—she’s only six weeks old—will never truly know her father."
Mike and his wife, Rachel, tied the knot in 2022, welcoming their first child, daughter Farrah, into the world in August. The murder occurred just a week before Mike’s sister was due to walk down the aisle. Jacob revealed to Fox6 Milwaukee that the wedding has since been postponed.
"My heart aches for my sister," Jacob confessed. "I can’t even begin to describe the pain of having to cancel your wedding because your brother’s funeral now takes its place. The only emotions I feel are pain and profound sadness."
According to the police report, authorities suspect that Mike was the victim of a drive-by shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found Mike suffering from a single gunshot wound. Despite their best efforts, he was pronounced dead at the location.
Mike had been a prominent figure in the hockey world, playing for the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League in St. Catherines, Ontario, from 2012 to 2014. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade with the Stouffville Spirit of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) before making the move to Niagara.
"On behalf of the OJHL, our hearts go out to the family and friends of Michael Robinson during this time of immense sorrow," the league shared in a heartfelt statement on Thursday. "Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. May you find solace in the cherished memories you shared with your loved one. Rest in peace, The OJHL Family."
Katie Gaudreau, whose brothers Johnny and Matthew were tragically killed the night before her wedding last year, took to social media to express her empathy. "My heart aches so deeply for this family," Katie wrote on her Instagram Story on Friday, September 26. "His sister was preparing for the best day of her life. I feel such profound pain for her. We are holding her and the rest of their family in our hearts."
