East Grand Rapids, Mich.- Sunday, a memorial was held at East Grand Rapids High School where students and recent graduates shared memories and released lanterns as they mourn the loss of Keeland Johns.
“He’s exactly what you want in a player and as a parent I can imagine he’s exactly what you want in a son,” East Kentwood Hockey Coach Nick Jannette.
Friends say Keeland was fun, goofy and had a heart of Gold. His hockey family and coach remember him as “one of the hardest working kids on the team.” Keeland tried out for the hockey team every year in high school, finally reaching his dream of making the team his senior year.
“The look in his eyes when he found out he made it, it was like a 5-year-old on Christmas morning,” Jannette said.
At the memorial, a message from the family of Brian and David Kelly and Keeland Johns was read. They said they wanted the students to know how much it meant to them that they attended and organized the memorial.
“We know that Keeland lives in all of our hearts and in our darkest hours that brings everyone comfort,” the message read.
Jannette says Keeland planned to attend Grand Rapids Community College in the fall and to come back and help coach the East Grand Rapids High School Hockey Team this upcoming season.
