Kevin Hayes pays tribute to brother Jimmy after first goal of season

After scoring his first goal of the season, Kevin Hayes paid tribute to his brother Jimmy by pointing skyward.

In August, Jimmy Hayes died at age 31. Since then, Kevin Hayes and others in the hockey world have honored his memory in a variety of ways. Including on the ice.

Kevin Hayes made his Flyers season debut against the Stars, collecting an assist. Before the game, Kevin Hayes heartbreakingly spoke about the emotions he’s dealing with after Jimmy’s passing.

“This is probably the first game of my NHL career where I won’t be able to text my brother after the game and kind of talk about it and joke about it and chat with him,” Kevin Hayes said before Saturday’s game, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I don’t really know the emotions I’m going to have when I go out there, honestly.”

Hockey world remembers Jimmy Hayes, including with The 11 Fund

Recently, Kevin Hayes announced “The 11 Fund” in honor of Jimmy. He’s clearly been impressed with the reaction from the NHL so far.

"It's been crazy," Kevin Hayes said about the NHL's response to The 11 Fund, which is in Jimmy's name. He said he reached out to one player on every team and within an hour, he had responses from everyone.

— Giana Han (@giana_jade) November 13, 2021

So far this season, teams have also paid tribute to Jimmy Hayes.

The Bruins honored Jimmy Hayes on Oct. 30:

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 30: In honor of NHL player Jimmy Hayes, the Boston Bruins have Hayesy written on the back of their jerseys to wear during warm ups before the game against the Florida Panthers at the TD Garden on October 30, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

While the Blackhawks and Devils both honored him on Oct. 15:

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 15: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks wears a jersey in honor of Jimmy Hayes prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils during a game at Prudential Center on October 15, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 15: The New Jersey Devils skate in warmups wearing jersey number ten in honor of Jimmy Hayes prior to their game against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Prudential Center on October 15, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Getty Images

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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at [e-mail] or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.