Maple Leafs mourn Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip

Canada lost a music icon this week, and the Toronto Maple Leafs found the perfect way to pay their respects.

The Maple Leafs held a tribute to celebrate the life of Gord Downie, frontman for The Tragically Hip, who died of brain cancer Tuesday at the age of 53, before their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday at Air Canada Centre.

Toronto took the extra step of honoring Downie by lowering Bill Barilko's banner from the rafters. Barilko, who scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in overtime in 1951 for Toronto's fourth championship in five seasons, was the subject of the Hip's 1992 song "Fifty-Mission Cap."

The Maple Leafs weren't the only ones in the NHL community to pay homage to Downie. Many current and former players from Canada paid their respects on Twitter.

The Ottawa Senators also dedicated their postpractice workout songs to the Hip.