Fallen Jr. Steelhead's inspiration lives on in scholarship

Boise, IDAHO (KBOI-TV) - At the first intermission of Sunday's game against Boulder, 26 sweaty Idaho Junior Steelheads crowded back onto the bench to honor two teammates: one fallen, the other honored in the fallen teammate's name.

Karl Seyb died in a single-car accident in April 2011. The 16-year-old Boise High student was a good student and prolific athlete - standing out in hockey and baseball.

When he died, his family decided the best way to keep his memory alive was to establish a scholarship in his name - the Karl Seyb Sports Scholarship.

"It means a lot supporting individuals who continue to support the sports and education that was important to him," Karl's mother Lynne Civin told KBOI Sunday.

Sunday's game in CenturyLink Arena was notable because it was the only time the Junior Steelheads play in Boise all year. It was special because it raised scholarship funds which will go towards young athletes like Karl. This year, that recipient was Connor Kingsbury: Jr. Steelheads defenseman, Boise native and long-time friend of Karl Seyb and his family.

"I just want to play good," Kingsbury said after receiving the scholarship on Sunday. The money will go a long way towards his goal of reaching the next level of hockey, which for kids in Junior 'A' is college.

"Karl's in my heart. I'm grateful I got it - it's a real honor," he said.

Civin and husband Tom said the scholarship fund is growing, and will include an academic scholarship in addition to the existing sports scholarship soon. There will be a rigorous application process, and they have planned to erect a plaque for winners at Boise High School.

"[Karl] was very well respected in the educational and the sports community," Lynne Civin said of her late son. "It's important that he continue to be involved even though he's not physically here with us."

And there's a challenge to that for Karl's mom. In the 21 months since his passing, there have been two memorial hockey games and a memorial baseball game - each a reminder of love lost.

"Personally, it's very challenging," Civin said. "But it's important to me that he be remembered and be involved in the Boise community as he would have wanted to be."

For more information on the Karl Seyb Scholarship, visit www.karlsdream.org.

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