When Bobby McMann, a player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, stepped onto the ice at Scotiabank Place on a recent Saturday night, he was wearing something a little different. Instead of his usual NHL gear, he donned a Loblaws work vest. This unusual choice wasn’t a fashion statement, but a heartwarming pre-game tribute to a late Toronto Maple Leafs fan named Kevin.

A Special Tribute to a Dedicated Fan

Kevin, an ardent Maple Leafs fan, worked at a local Loblaws grocery store. McMann, a 29-year-old forward from Alberta, decided to honour Kevin’s memory by wearing the vest to the game. He also shared a photo of himself in the vest on his Instagram story, captioned “Walking with my guy Kev.”

Remembering Kevin

Kevin’s story was shared by the HockeyIlluminati Instagram page following his death. According to the post by the page’s founder, Frank Crupi, Kevin, who was 48 at the time of his passing, worked as a cart man at a Toronto Loblaws. He was a dedicated Leafs fan, always sporting their gear, and passed away during a Leafs game last week.

“He was always wearing Leafs gear, every time I saw him,” Crupi noted. “We’d always stop and chat about the buds for five-10 minutes.

Crupi further shared, “This man, my boy Kevin, might have been legitimately the biggest, most diehard fan in Leafsnation… His favourite Leaf was Bobby McMann, who would also pop into the Loblaws every now and then, and he got a photo with him one time.”

Kevin’s Impact

According to Crupi, Kevin had no immediate family apart from his wife and was mostly on his own. The tribute by McMann, a player undrafted by the NHL, was touching and seemed to inspire his teammates. The Leafs went on to secure a 5-0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks that night.

As the Leafs continue their journey towards the playoffs, they will surely be cheered on by a devoted fan from above.

Lead photo by @bobbymcmann/Instagram

Ethan Radcliffe

Ethan Radcliffe is a senior reporter and digital editor at The Toronto Insider, specializing in Canadian federal policy, GTA urban development, and national economic trends. With over a decade of experience in North American journalism, Ethan focuses on translating complex legislative and economic developments into clear, accessible reporting for Canadian readers. Ethan’s work emphasizes policy analysis, government accountability, and data-driven reporting, with a strong focus on how federal and provincial decisions impact communities across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. He has covered infrastructure planning, housing policy, fiscal strategy, and regulatory changes affecting Canadian households and businesses. A graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Journalism, Ethan brings expertise in investigative reporting, long-form analysis, editorial standards, and digital publishing best practices. His reporting is guided by verifiable sources, public records, and transparent sourcing. In addition to reporting, Ethan has experience in newsroom editing, fact-checking workflows, SEO-informed journalism, and audience analytics, ensuring stories meet both editorial integrity standards and modern digital discoverability requirements. Ethan is committed to objective, fact-driven journalism and adheres to established ethical guidelines, prioritizing accuracy, clarity, and public trust in all reporting.

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