Rufenach memorial fund created

The family of Walleye player Bryan Rufenach has created a memorial fund to honor the Toledo defenseman who died in Switzerland last week.

A portion of the money raised will go to a hockey camp that Rufenach established last year.

Bryan Rufenach was electrocuted after touching an overhead power line at a train station in Grindelwald, Switzerland last Monday. He had been backpacking across Europe with a friend.

Mark Rufenach, the brother of the Toledo player, posted a note on Facebook expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support.

“Knowing how much Bryan meant to everyone has touched our hearts,” Mark Rufenach wrote.

CLICK HERE  to read the Facebook note from the Rufenach family.

He said an email account had been set up to “capture all of the ways in which Bryan will be remembered by his close friends and extended ‘family.’”

The email address is: forbryanrufenach@gmail.com.

A native of Barrie, Ontario, Rufenach was a rising prospect in the Detroit Red Wings’ system. He played in 54 games last season for the Walleye and was the team’s third-leading scorer.

Mark Rufenach also said the memorial fund will help cover the costs of transferring the body back to Canada and funeral arrangements.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at Stoddart Funeral Home in Lindsay, Ontario. Visitation also will be held on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The funeral mass will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday at St. Mary’s Parish Community Church in Lindsay, Ontario.

Excess funds will be put toward the Bryan Rufenach Memorial Skills Camp. The camp was started last year by Rufenach for young players.