Pembroke Hockey Players Billy Hickey And Joey Birolini Laid To Rest

PEMBROKE (CBS) -- Two hockey players from Pembroke were laid to rest on Saturday. Twenty-three-year-olds Billy Hickey and Joey Birolini were killed in a car crash last weekend.

A joint funeral was held at St. Thecla's Church in Pembroke. The service was live-streamed because of coronavirus restrictions.

Before the service, local hockey players lined the street between the funeral home and the church with their hockey sticks in hand to say goodbye to their teammates.

The two were former co-captains of their high school hockey team.

"We've known each other since we were probably five years old. They were natural-born leaders. Billy was super goofy and taught us not to take life too seriously. Joey was one of the smartest guys I've ever met," said friend Mike Fahie Jr.

Birolini and Hickey were also buried next to each other. An investigation into the crash that killed them is still ongoing.