Jimmy Hayes dead latest – Hundreds pay respects to ex-NHL star and former Bruins player ahead of funeral on Monday
HUNDREDS of people said their goodbyes to ex-NHL star and Boston College Jimmy Hayes at his wake on Sunday.
More than 200 people paid their respects to the late hockey player in Florian Hall in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
Hayes' Funeral Mass will take place in St. Ann’s Church, Neponset, at 10am on Monday, August 30.
Hayes, 31, died suddenly last week at home, leaving his wife and two children devastated, cops say.
According to the , law enforcement and first responders went to Hayes’ home in Milton, Massachusetts, on the morning of August 23, where he was pronounced dead.
Authorities say Hayes’ cause of death is still unknown and is being treated as unexplained.
His death was not ruled suspicious, reported the outlet.
The news of Hayes’ sudden death rocked the hockey world as fans and his former teams penned tributes to the player on social media.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, the team Hayes played in during the 2018 - 2019 season tweeted: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former @WBSPenguins forward, Jimmy Hayes. The Penguins organization sends our thoughts and prayers to Jimmy's family, friends, and former teammates during this extremely difficult time.”
Read our Jimmy Hayes live blog below for the latest news & updates...
JIMMY'S SISTER GENEVIEVE SHARES OLD PHOTOS
KEVIN HAYES REMEMBERS HIS BROTHER
PODCAST COHOST REMEMBERS JIMMY
JIMMY'S WIFE PAYS TRIBUTE
HOW MANY CHILDREN DOES JIMMY HAVE?
His wife, , just a day before her husband died and wrote: “Let’s keep making more babies. So much fun celebrating these 3 boys over the weekend.
“The cutest lil friendships (their dads all played hockey together at BC)."
She concluded that she couldn’t “wait to watch them grow up together,” alongside a blue heart emoji.
The couple shared two young boys together — Beau, two, and Mac, three months, according to the .
In addition to his wife and kids, the late athlete is survived by sisters Genevieve, Eileen, and Justine, and his younger brother, .
WHO IS KRISTEN HAYES?
Kirsten Hayes is the wife of NHL player Jimmy Hayes.
They were together for a number of years before Jimmy’s untimely death.
They first met through a mutual friend and dated for a couple of years before becoming engaged.
They exchanged wedding vows in July 2018.
Kristen posts lots of family snaps on her Instagram page .
WHO IS JIMMY'S BROTHER KEVIN?
Kevin Patrick Hayes is also a professional ice hockey player and alternate captain for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League.
At 6ft 5in, Kevin was born May 8, 1992 and raised alongside his brother in Dorchester, Massachussetts.
He was first drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Hayes chose to defer his professional career and followed his older brother Jimmy, playing four seasons with the Boston College Eagles.
WHEN WAS JIMMY HAYES IN THE NHL?
Hayes made his NHL debut in 2011 with the Blackhawks.
He made 109 points in 334 games over the span of seven seasons.
The athlete then signed a one-year contract and played for the New Jersey Devils for the 2017 - 2018 season, making three goals and six assists in 33 games.
Hayes then joined the Penguins for a season but was reassigned to their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
In 2020 he began hosting a hockey podcast called Missin Curfew’ with former hockey players Shane O’Brien and Scottie Upshall.
WHAT WAS JIMMY HAYES' CAUSE OF DEATH?
Hockey player , according to authorities.
According to the , law enforcement and first responders went to Hayes’ home in Milton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, where he was pronounced dead.
His death was not ruled suspicious, reported the outlet.
Hayes is survived by his wife Kristen and two young boys.
JIMMY'S TEAMMATES FLOOD TWITTER WITH TRIBUTES
JIMMY'S COUSIN SHARES TOUCHING TRIBUTE
MIKE GRINNELL CALLS JIMMY 'ONE OF THE BEST DUDES EVER'
TEAMMATE CHRIS WAGNER'S 'HEART BREAKS' FOR JIMMY'S FAMILY
FELLOW PODCAST HOST 'HEARTBROKEN AND SICK'
FANS FLOOD JIMMY'S WIFE'S POST WITH WARM WISHES
Fans took to the comments of his wife’s post on August 22 after news of his death began circulating.
“Sorry for your loss. Rest in peace Jimmy,” one person wrote.
“I’m heartbroken for you and the boys Kristen,” another person responded. “Much love and many prayers to you.”
“Prayers from many brothers/sisters in the hockey community,” someone else replied to the heartbreaking post.
JOURNALIST JOHN BUCCIGROSS SHARES 'DEVASTATING NEWS'
HOW MANY MEDALS DID JIMMY WIN?
Over seven seasons, Jimmy played with the Blackhawks, Panthers, , and the Devils before his death.
Hayes won silver medals with Team USA in the 2007 Under-18 World Junior Championship and the 2009 U-20s.
JIMMY'S PODCAST PARTNERS POST 'THOUGHTS, PRAYERS AND LOVE'
JIMMY'S WIFE SHARED FAMILY PHOTOS A DAY BEFORE DEATH
His wife, , shared sweet photos with their kids just a day before her husband died and wrote, “Let’s keep making more babies. So much fun celebrating these 3 boys over the weekend.”
“The cutest lil friendships (their dads all played hockey together at BC),” she added.
She concluded that she couldn’t “wait to watch them grow up together,” alongside a blue heart emoji.
FELLOW BARSTOOL SPORTS PODCAST TAKES A WEEK OFF FOLLOWING DEATH
BOSTON BRUINS RELEASE STATEMENT
BRUINS CAPTAIN PRAISES JIMMY
Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron said Hayes was a “joy” on and off the rink, reports.
He said: “I'll always remember his big smile – he was so positive and full of life.
“I’m going to really miss that. We’ve lost a great person.”
JIMMY'S BROTHER KEVIN WRITES HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE
HAYES' PODCAST
Hayes co-hosted a podcast with fellow former NHL players Shane O'Brien and Scotties Upshall called "Missin Curfew" since August 2020.
Their last live show was on August 5, the Globe reports.
BRIAN DUMOULIN WRITES INSTAGRAM TRIBUTE TO JIMMY
The Pittsburgh Penguins captioned the photo of Jimmy: "I’m going to miss your hugs, hearing your voice and your laugh. You always brought the positive energy and it was infectious.
"It’s definitely one of the many things I learned from you. I’m so lucky to have called you a friend and teammate.
"This past Saturday was one of the highlights of my summer having all our boys together. Now I look back on how special that last memory together was. We miss you and love you."
