They lined up by the hundreds along North Bay's Memorial Drive to pay their respects to Noah Dugas.
The 13-year-old North Bay native passed away from a stroke on Friday, November 13.
His story captured the hearts of thousands in North Bay and beyond.
As a tribute to the former AAA Trappers defenceman, many supporters wore a hockey jersey and raised a hockey stick as the funeral procession made its way along Memorial Drive to the Holy Name of Jesus Church for the small family funeral which took place at 11 a.m. Saturday morning.
Davis Anello, a 14-year-old St. Joseph-Scollard Hall student, is a former teammate of Noah's.
"Noah was a really sweet and loving kid," recalls Anello.
"He was always calm, he always would bring you up when you were down. He was nice to play with."
See related: Noah Dugas' family thanks the community
Jennifer McNutt-Bywater, sporting North Bay Ice Boltz colours, helped organize one of the many community fundraisers for Noah while he was in the hospital going through rehabilitation.
She felt this was a good way for the hockey community to pay its respects.
"It is going to be a very emotional day for all of us here attending and I'm sure very emotional for the family to pass by and see this but also for them to know how much Noah and their family means to this community," she said while holding back tears under her mask.
"People would have liked to attend his funeral but are unable to because of COVID-19 so this is an opportunity for us to say our good-byes."
Darren Turcotte is a former NHLer who led the way for a 7N1D T-Shirt fundraiser for the family.
"It is incredible, just seeing all the young hockey players out here, older hockey players," said the Lakers women's hockey coach.
"It just kind of shows again the kind of person Noah was and the kind of people that the Dugas family are. It is a tremendous show of community support. It is not the greatest way to say good-bye to somebody but I am sure it is going to be very emotional for them."
As the procession drove by the sticks were raised and as the vehicles drove by the many hundreds sporting hockey sticks gave a soft few stick taps on the pavement for a young hockey player who the community will never forget.
