Former Alexandria assistant hockey coach dies after falling through roof

Verd Anez, a former assistant coach of the Alexandria girls hockey team, died last night after falling though the roof of a pole shed in rural Little Falls.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report about the incident at 6:43 p.m. Monday.

Anez, 46, was trying to remove snow when he fell, according to the sheriff’s office.

When deputies arrived, they found that Anez had died from apparent injuries suffered in the fall. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner has not yet issued an official cause of death.

Anez’s daughter, Michelle, was a captain of the Alexandria girls hockey team and was named the team’s most valuable offensive player last season when she was a senior. Verd Anez was an assistant coach under head coach Mitch Loch. The team advanced all the way into the state tournament, placing fourth overall. It was the team's sixth state tournament appearance in seven years.

Anez is also the father of two Little Falls hockey players, Mike and Mark. Because of that, the boys hockey game with Alexandria tonight in Little Falls has been canceled. It is rescheduled for Saturday, February 12.

According to Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel, this year’s heavy snowfall has caused at least one barn roof to collapse, and prompted many people to climb onto roofs to remove snow.

Barns and pole sheds often have one or more fiberglass roof panels, instead of solid steal panels, to permit light to shine through.

When the roof is covered with snow, a person can step onto one of the weaker panels without knowing it.

Wetzel urged people to exercise extreme caution when removing snow from a roof, especially if the roof has light permeable panels.

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