GROSSE POINTE, Mich. (WWJ) -- A pair of hockey sticks, a soccer ball and two hockey jerseys sat at the altar inside St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Parish as hundreds of community members showed up to pray for the Connolly family.
Logan and Briggs Connolly, two young, energetic hockey-loving brothers, were killed when their family's home caught fire Monday morning.
Young hockey players from all over the community showed up to the prayer vigil, donning hockey jerseys to mourn and show their support for the family.
The boys' father, Walter Connolly, thanked the community for their support and acknowledged his sons' hockey and soccer teams. He asked the community to continue to pray for his family as they mourn.
"I can tell you what's holding me up -- every one of you," Connolly said through tears.
Logan, 9, and Briggs, 11, were trapped inside the home Monday morning while getting ready for school -- a tragedy that was felt far beyond Grosse Pointe. The hockey community as a whole felt the loss, with hundreds taking to social media using the #SticksOutForLoganAndBriggs, posting photos of hockey sticks outside.
To honor the Connolly boys, High Winds Graphix in Grosse Point has designed a tribute hockey helmet sticker. The company is urging the community to donate to a GoFundMe page set up in support of the family.
Laurie Bunn, owner of High Winds Graphix says they are receiving requests from all over the country.
"It started out as people in the community could put them on their helmets and show their support and continue a legacy for the boys so they're never forgotten, but then it quickly expanded throughout the hockey community, across the country. It's a great way to show support for the family and help mourn the loss," Bunn told WWJ.
One mother attending Wednesday's prayer service with her daughter, who knew Logan, told WWJ's Stephanie Davis the boys; death was devastating.
"Just awful. I just feel for the parents and that's all I keep thinking about are the parents and what they're going through right now," she said.
A visitation for the brothers will be held Saturday from 2-7 p.m. at Grosse Pointe Academy Field House. A celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m. the same day at the field house.
