Away from a hockey rink, Sanjeeve Sharma was a quiet, almost shy sort of teen.

The well-muscled 6'1" 15-year-old wasn't timid, but he would take his time getting to know people, and he wouldn't smile without a good reason.

It was a different story when he took to the ice.

Heaven help the opposing player who roughed up a Sharma teammate.

He would take them down hard, even if he had to wait several games to do it.

The left winger was known for his trash talking skills, needling rival players into losing their cool.

Sharma was preparing to play rep hockey and he had dreams about playing professionally.

If that hadn't worked out, he probably would have gone into law enforcement.

He was a loyal Canucks fan who would continue to cheer for his team even when they were at the bottom of a losing streak.

He was also a fan of the rock group KISS.

It was something he shared with his dad.

They went to concerts together and when Sanjeeve was decorating his bedroom, he convinced his parent to let him use some of his father's mint condition collectible KISS posters.

Sanjeeve returned the favor by educating his dad about hip-hop music.

The old man (as dad referred to himself) even came to like some of the newer stuff and son and father would crank the stereo in the truck almost all the way up. But not when mom Sara was riding with them.

Tired of the dark stains, dad deployed a KISS rug, reasoning his son would never risk spilling soda on the faces of his favorite rock group.

It worked.

About the only part of Sanjeeve's bedroom that wasn't devoted to either KISS or hockey (including his many medals) was the gigantic stuffed puppy that he curled up with in his bed every night.

It was a surprise Valentine's day gift from a girlfriend.

At an age when other teens are dating as many different people as they can, he was loyal to one girl.

When his curious mother Sara asked why, he simply said that girls don't like it when guys do that.

On Monday, Sanjeeve ate at home before he went to a local gym with some friends.

It was his favorite meal - his mother's lasagna.

He was supposed to come home at 7:00 p.m.

When his mother phoned him to pick him up from the gym, he said, "no mommy, I have a ride."

When her son was late getting home, Sara was irritated at first.

Then she began to worry.

And then the call came, to go to the hospital.

Her son was dead.

Sanjeeve was one of three people in a white 1999 Chevrolet Malibu that slammed into a BMW Sport Utility Vehicle in a Newton business district.

A 16-year-old boy from Surrey was at the wheel with Sanjeeve and another passenger, an 18-year-old also from Surrey.

The collision occurred around 9 p.m. on 128 Street near 82 Avenue just south of the train tracks that run diagonally through the intersection.

Both vehicles were heading south down 128 Street at the time.

The teenage driver of the Malibu had reportedly been driving erratically before he lost control, hit the BMW, then slammed into a light standard.

Sanjeeve was critically injured.

His parents were told they can take some comfort in knowing that their eldest son died almost instantly and didn't suffer.

The 16-year-old driver and 18-year-old passenger in the Malibu escaped with what are described as minor injuries.

So did the three occupants of the SUV.

Police said initial indications are that alcohol and speed were factors.

Sanjeeve's parents have been told that the 16-year-old did have a learner's license and may have been driving a car that was purchased for him by his parents.

It appears the teen driver was in defiance of provincial "L" or learner licence conditions.

Under B.C. law, a 16-year-old driver who passes a driving test and obtains an "L" permit is only allowed to drive with an adult supervisor sitting beside them who is at least 25 years old and has a valid driver's licence.

That is one of several restrictions imposed on beginner drivers by the provincial graduated licensing program.

Under the program, a 16-year-old new driver must display an "L" sticker on their car, cannot drink even the slightest amount of alcohol, can only carry two passengers, one of them an adult supervisor, and cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m.

Surrey RCMP Traffic Services is continuing their investigation and is asking that anyone who witnessed the crash or events that preceded it to contact Const. Glen Croutch at 604-599-0502.

A funeral service for Sanjeeve has been scheduled for Friday.

dferguson@surreyleader.com