Hockey fans pay tribute to ex-NHLer Jimmy Hayes with moving stick salute at funeral

Rest in peace, Jimmy Hayes.

The last week has been a tough one for the hockey community. In late August, the news of the sudden passing of Jimmy Hayes at age 31 shocked the sports world.

Hayes was a NHL veteran of seven seasons and a Boston native, having won a national hockey championship at Boston College. He played 334 professional games at the NHL level, spending a good portion of his career with his hometown team, the Boston Bruins, before retiring in 2019.

On Monday, the hockey world came together to mourn Hayes’ tragic and shocking death — the cause has yet to be disclosed — with a funeral and memorial service at St. Ann’s Church in Dorchester, MA. Jimmy’s wife, Kristen, and brother Kevin — currently playing with the Philadelphia Flyers — were in attendance, alongside P.K. Subban,

Outside of the church and along the funeral route, hundreds of hockey fans lined the streets to pay tribute to Hayes one last time. Dorchester Youth Hockey, among other hockey fans in the community, gave Hayes one final stick salute — the universal hockey symbol of respect and reverence.

What an incredible sendoff for a very special hockey player. You’ll be missed, Jimmy Hayes.

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