A candlelit vigil will be held at the Fife Ice Arena tonight in memory of Fife Flyers player-coach Todd Dutiaume’s wife following her death earlier this week.
Kelly Dutiaume (38), who was due to give birth to twins later this month, died suddenly after taking ill on Monday night.
Medics at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital were unable to save her or her unborn babies, sparking a wave of grief from not only those who knew the couple but many others who have been touched by the tragic circumstances of Kelly and the twins’ passing.
Tributes have continued to pour in from the ice hockey world and beyond, with hundreds of people leaving messages on Facebook and Twitter and via other hockey forums.
As a way of channelling their condolences, Flyers fans have rallied round and have organised a special tribute in the car park of the Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy at 7pm tonight.
Kelly, whose maiden name was Hamilton, was well known to many in the Kirkcaldy area, having attended Kirkcaldy High School and worked in the town for many years. She met Canadian-born Todd through friends more than a decade ago.
The pair married in 2005 and have a three-year-old daughter, Olivia.
Following the tragic events, Todd released a statement on behalf of the family thanking everyone who has offered their support, kind thoughts and their wishes at this difficult time.
He added: ”Kelly was a fantastic mother, wife, daughter and one of the gentlest and kindest individuals you could ever hope to have in your life.”
It has been confirmed that a mark of respect will be observed at Elite League ice hockey matches this weekend.
There are home games this weekend for Belfast, Braehead, Coventry, Dundee, Edinburgh, Hull, Nottingham and Sheffield.
Flyers’ away games against Nottingham on Saturday and Hull on Sunday will go ahead as planned.