Mourners gather for Daron Richardson service

THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The arena that normally hosts the Ottawa Senators of the NHL is filling up with a different crowd today.

Mourners, including busloads of students, are filing onto the floor of Scotiabank Place for a memorial service for Daron Richardson, the 14-year-old daughter of the team’s assistant coach, Luke Richardson.

The teen died in a suicide on the weekend.

Her family allowed news of the tragedy to be made public and are soliciting donations to the Royal Ottawa Health Foundation’s Youth Program in lieu of flowers.

The Senators delayed a scheduled trip to Raleigh, N.C., in order to attend the memorial before flying out for tonight’s game against the Hurricanes.

Team captain Daniel Alfredsson, a strong advocate for mental-health causes, says hockey takes a back seat in this situation.

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