Dozens of football fans and members of the Calgary Stampeders football club gathered outside of McMahon Stadium on Wednesday night to pay tribute to Mylan Hicks, the victim of a fatal Sunday morning shooting outside a nightclub.
Stampeders defensive lineman Charleston Hughes addressed the crowd, thanking them for their support. “It shows how great the fans are of the whole Stampeders organization and we appreciate every one of you all.”
Hicks, a 23-year-old import who played his college football at Michigan State University, was a member of the Calgary Stampeders practice roster.
“It’s a sad situation to see something like this happen especially because he really didn’t get an absolute chance to step on the field and show what he really, really had to offer to this team,” said Hughes.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell remembered Hicks as a ‘fun guy to be around’ and commended the Hicks family for raising him right.
“I’ve seen a lot of rookies come through here and I can’t tell you how many of those guys I’ve seen complain and whine about not getting playing time or not getting their fair share,” said Mitchell. “You never heard it from Mylan. Not once.”
“The guy came to work every single day.
Stampeders fans, including Aubri Webster, lit candles to honour Hicks’ memory.
“It hits really hard when you hear of a player being taken by a senseless act of murder,” said Webster. “It’s just so painful, even as a fan. I can’t imagine what his family and what the team are going through right now.”
A 19-year-old Calgary man has been charged with second degree murder in connection with the shooting death.
