Gostisbehere laments Florida school shooting at his alma mater

A deadly shooting in Florida is resonating deeply with Shayne Gostisbehere.

The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman once attended classes at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a shooter killed 17 people Wednesday.

"These things keep happening, and it just sucks," Gostisbehere told reporters Thursday. "It sucks to see. Those are the hallways (I) walked (at) one time before, but it's a tragic event - a tragic day."

Gostisbehere grew up in Florida and went to the school from 2007-08 to 2008-09, then transferred to South Kent School in Connecticut.

"They always say it's 'close to home,' but when it's actually home, it's pretty tough to see," he said Thursday. "I haven't really processed it yet. I still can't believe it. I was just in that school. I was only there for two years, but I felt safe at that school every day I was there, and just to see something like that happen to those kids and those teachers, it sucks.

"It's just a tragic day for South Florida and as a nation."

Gostisbehere said he didn't know any of the victims personally, but was familiar with some of the teachers and knew deceased football coach Aaron Feis, who stepped in front of bullets to shield students and was confirmed dead Thursday.

"He was always a great guy, always nice to me when I was there," Gostisbehere said. "(It) really shows his character, what he did, in that time of panic and emergency, putting himself on the line before others. He's a true hero, and he's the guy we need to focus on rather than the actual suspect."

Gostisbehere added that it still hasn't fully sunk in.

"My grandparents live a mile away from the school, and I lived 10 minutes away. It's a tough time. It was just voted the safest city in Florida last year, and to see a tragic event like that, (there's) obviously some shock right now."