his skates, making him fall backwards and hit his head on the ice. Still feeling unwell the following day, he was admitted to hospital, where he slipped into a coma and died a week later on December 10. As his parish was unable to accommodate the crowds expected for his funeral, the service was held in Timmins' McIntyre Arena. Thousands from all over the country were reputed to have been at the funeral. Timmins native Shania Twain issued a statement of tribute to Costello: Writer and politician Charlie Angus published a biography of Costello, Les Costello: Canada's Flying Father, in 2005. A foundation to raise funds for food banks, homeless shelters and other anti-poverty charities in Northern Ontario was also launched in Costello's memory the same year. As well, a major street in the city's Schumacher neighbourhood was renamed Father Costello Drive. The hockey arena in the town of Cobalt, Ontario is named for Father Costello. Costello was posthumously inducted into the Timmins Sports Heritage Hall of Fame in 2014. Career statistics Regular season and playoffs References External links Flying Fathers "Schumacher's saint: Fr. Les Costello" by Charlie Angus in Catholic New Times Les Costello profile at the Catholic Educator's Resource Center Picture of Les Costello's Name on the 1948 Stanley Cup Plaque 1928 births 2002 deaths Canadian ice hockey left wingers 20th-century Canadian Roman Catholic priests Ice hockey people from Ontario Pittsburgh Hornets players Sportspeople from Timmins Stanley Cup champions Toronto Maple Leafs players Toronto St. Michael's Majors players