NHL player Erik Haula pays tribute to unborn daughter after her death: 'We cannot wait to hold you one day in heaven'

Carolina Hurricanes center Erik Haula and his wife, Kristen Haula, took to Instagram to announce the tragic loss of their unborn daughter this week.

"While it’s not what is best for everyone, it personally feels best for us to share," Kristen explained of the family's decision to make the loss public. She revealed that after feeling "amazing" during her entire pregnancy, which the couple announced in November, that an ultrasound on Monday revealed their baby had lost her heartbeat.

"While it may be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel on some days going forward, and some may be harder than others to understand why this happened, the complete joy & excitement she has brought to us and those who love her will be with us forever," she continued. "Mommy and Daddy know she is being taken care of in heaven."

Erik Haula echoed his wife's heartbreaking sentiments in his own post on Wednesday, which revealed that the death occurred on December 30.

"Our baby girl gone way too soon," he wrote. "Mommy & Daddy will always love you and we cannot wait to hold you one day in heaven."

Haula paid tribute to his daughter after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the Hurricanes' 3-1 victory on Tuesday. He had written the date of his child's death on his sticks and pointed to the sky after he scored.