Former Rangers’ Forward Kevin Hayes Writes Heartbreaking Goodbye to Brother

Break out the tissues for this one.

In case you missed it, tragedy struck the hockey world on Monday, as former NHL player Jimmy Hayes tragically passed away at the age of 31. A veteran of over 300 NHL games, Hayes appeared to have moved onto the next phase of his life: being a father. Hayes is survived by his wife and two kids, both of whom are under three years of age.

Hayes is also survived by his brother, Kevin. Kevin Hayes began his professional career with the New York Rangers, making his NHL debut in 2014. He stayed with the organization until midway through the 2018-19 season, before being moved to the Winnipeg Jets, following which he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Needless to say, Kevin Hayes is devastated. Judging by the outpouring of support that the Hayes family has received, the entire hockey community is, too.

Get our free mobile app

Here's what Kevin Hayes posted on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kevin Hayes (@kphayes12)

I'm not crying, you're crying.

It's been a very tough time for the hockey community, especially those related to the hockey community in Boston. A Boston native, Hayes was residing in Milton at the time of his passing. Messages of sorrow and remembrance have resonated throughout social media over the last few days, including messages from former teammates, coaches, and fans.

Needless to say, when Hayes takes the ice next season with the Philadelphia Flyers, he'll be playing for a bit than he ever has before. I would bet a number of players in the NHL will be feeling that way too.