I don't know what the percentages are for hockey vs. other sports, but it does seem that way.
From
this article, quoting fellow linesman Pierre Racicot, Provost's best friend:
QUOTE
According to Racicot, on Thursday night Provost and a friend met Major League Baseball umpire Alfonso Marquez and another umpire who worked Thursday's Marlins game at the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood.
At around 3 a.m., Provost left for home. According to a Broward County Sheriff's Office news release, Provost was driving his 2003 Harley Davidson westbound on SR84 when he plowed into the rear of a truck's tractor, which was registered to Oceanic Transport, Inc., of Ft. Pierce, at the intersection of SR84 and Arvida Parkway.
The motorcycle burst into flames and landed on top of Provost. According to BSO Fire Rescue Capt. David Erdman, the tractor's driver, who was identified on the BSO release as 35-year-old Cornel Brown of Miami, put out the fire with a portable extinguisher.
Provost was declared dead on the scene at 3:41 a.m. Brown was uninjured. The Broward Medical Examiner's Office will perform an autopsy and toxicology screening on Provost. He was not wearing a helmet.
Not sure a helmet would've helped, but still...
Kind of interesting that you have baseball umpires hanging out with a hockey official.
QUOTE
Provost, a former firefighter in Quebec who played major junior hockey for Verdun and St.-Jean, spent the NHL lockout working odd construction jobs, like painting houses and changing toilets, for $10 an hour.
\"This has been a really crappy year for his family,\" Racicot said. \"Never mind the financial troubles and burden that this year has put on the family, but now this. He was the sole provider, so they've had a rough time through this lockout.\"
Racicot plans to organize a memorial fund for Provost's family.
And the league and players ought to make some healthy donations if you ask me.