We knew it was coming. We knew long before that epic CIS Cup final last March, when we chanted his name at Hampden and wore his name on our T-shirts.

We knew when he waved from the dugout at our last home game, too ill to climb the stairs in the stand that bears his name.

But today's news that Eddie Thompson has finally lost his long, courageous battle with prostate cancer still comes as a sickening blow.