Avalanche fan made ultimate sacrifice to honor deceased friend

A Colorado Avalanche fan was banned from games at the Ball Arena for the remainder of the 2021-22 season after spreading his deceased friend’s ashes onto the ice on Jan. 8.

The Colorado Avalanche are one win away from winning their third Stanley Cup in franchise history after winning Game 4 in overtime over the Tampa Bay Lightning. That gave them the chance to win the Cup in front of their home fans at Ball Arena in Game 5 on Friday, June 24. But one fan in particular will not be allowed to attend the game live.

Ryan Clark received a ban for the remainder of the 2021-22 season from Avalanche games at Ball Arena after he spread his deceased friend’s ashes onto the ice during the team’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 8.

Avalanche fan banned from home games for 2021-22 season after spreading fan’s ashes on the ice

“The usher asked me, ‘What was that?’ I gotta be honest with you. It was my friend. ‘What do you mean?’ I said, well he passed away. Yesterday was his service and I spread some of his ashes out there,” Clark said, h/t Yahoo Sports Canada.

“I knew what I did was considered wrong. I owned up to it the second it happened.”

Clark had the ashes of his friend, Kyle Stark, in a baggie. During the contest, he spread the ashes over and through the glass to get on the ice. That was when the usher approached him, and was escorted to security and eventually exited the arena. The team sent Clark a letter, notifying him that he was banned for the remainder of the season.

The Avalanche finished the 2021-22 season with the best record in the Western Conference. They swept the Nashville Predators in the opening round, defeated the St. Louis Blues in six games in the second round and beat the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals in four games to clinch their third Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Colorado won the Stanley Cup in their previous two appearances, sweeping the Florida Panthers in 1996 and defeating the New Jersey Devils in seven games in 2001.

Clark says he has no regrets over his decision, even though he is not allowed in Colorado’s home arena to potentially see them hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.

“If you’ve ever seen ‘Angels in the Outfield,’ like this is just the hockey version, so when they’re at home and they need a little assistance, my boy’s out there to assist,” Clark said, h/t Yahoo Sports Canada.