A perfectly observed minute’s silence followed by a 30-second round of applause was how Fife Flyers fans paid poignant tribute to Kelly Dutiaume, and their absent coach, at Fife Ice Arena on Saturday evening.
With heads bowed and helmets off as a mark of respect, the Flyers and opponents Dundee CCS Stars lined up across the rink for the silent tribute, with players joining in the applause tribute by banging their sticks on the ice.
There was a further poignant gesture when the Dundee players skated past the bench and shook hands with the Flyers team.
The tribute from fans, a week after 300 attended an unprecedented candlelit vigil outside Fife Ice Arena, came just a day after the Flyers player-coach Todd Dutiaume paid an emotional tribute to his wife Kelly and their unborn twins, telling mourners at her funeral: ”Life will never be the same again.”
The funeral of the ”absolutely selfless” young mother who died just weeks before she was due to give birth was held at Kirkcaldy Crematorium on Friday.
It is understood that Mr Dutiaume was not present at the Fife Ice Arena on Saturday evening. Kelly was a passionate Flyers fan and had been a regular at the arena over the years.
One fan, Paul Walker, said on the Fife Flyers Facebook page afterwards: ”Well done everyone for a perfect silence and applause.”
The game ended in a 2-0 win for Stars.
Photo David Wardle