habsfan
02-29-2008, 01:09 PM
http://www.citynews.ca/images/2008-02/feb1808-hockeyrenaud.jpg http://multimedia.thestar.com/images/15/6c/87cda19347058278ded03738cfa9.jpeg
DAVE CHIDLEY/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tearful Windsor Spitfires fans watch a tribute to Mickey
Renaud before a game, Feb. 28, 2008.
Spitfires Pay Tribute To Mickey Renaud
Thursday February 28, 2008
By Chris Johnston, The Canadian Press
Fans lined up in the bitter cold to ensure that the arena was full before the Windsor Spitfires even took the ice, and everyone came clad in red to show support for the home team.
An emotional evening at Windsor Arena was not just a tribute to Mickey Renaud, it was also a night for his former teammates.
It had been almost two weeks since the Ontario Hockey League team played a game, and they were among the more trying weeks of these young men's lives. Renaud died Feb. 18 at the age of 19 after collapsing at his home in nearby Tecumseh.
His mostly teenaged teammates played well in their first game but lost 4-3 to the Belleville Bulls in a shootout on Thursday night.
The evening was full of tributes to Renaud.
His No. 18 was painted on the ice behind each net and represented by a sticker on every players' helmet and sweater. The Spitfires and Bulls also each warmed up in jerseys with Renaud's name and number stitched on the back.
Many of the Windsor players bowed their heads and rubbed their eyes as they took off their Renaud sweaters and placed them in piles on a table at centre ice just before the opening faceoff.
They had been determined to remain strong but were unable to contain all their emotions. The team has met repeatedly with counsellors from victims service to help them with the grieving process after Renaud's death.
"We made sure that everybody had a chance to talk about their emotions," said Bob Boughner, the Spitfires president and head coach. "We suggested that everyone get it out."
There were almost as many red eyes in the building as there were red shirts in the stands during a 10-minute video tribute that was shown before the game. The clips were assembled by assistant coach D.J. Smith and showed Renaud scoring his first OHL goal and being on the winning end of a couple fights.
One of the most emotional moments came after the video when Renaud's older brother Remy performed the ceremonial faceoff. Belleville's Keaton Turkiewicz came forward but no member of the Spitfires joined him as the puck was dropped. Windsor will not name a captain in Renaud's place this season.
His family appreciates the support they've received.
"It's great to see how much everyone cared about Mickey," said Remy Renaud. "This shows that he will not just be missed by our family but by the entire Windsor community."
A Thursday night like this is usually meant for hockey, especially with the way these teams have performed this season. Belleville entered the game as the top team in the Eastern Conference while the Spitfires sat third in the West.
But it was clear that there was much more going on at the 84-year-old arena which is affectionately called "The Barn."
Pictures drawn by grade school kids as a tribute to Renaud hung in the corridors while fans lined up to sign books of condolence. Several display cases also contained some of his memorabilia, including a photo of Renaud in a Calgary Flames jersey that was taken after he was drafted by the NHL team last summer.
The Windsor players wore pensive looks while waiting to take the ice for the pre-game warmup. They hit hands and winked at one another as nearby fans yelled: "Do it for Mickey!"
By the end of the night they could say they had.
"Words can't describe what Mickey meant to us," said Boughner.
With a tough night behind them, the Spitfires jumped straight on a bus for what will be a busy stretch.
They'll play consecutive road games against division rivals this weekend -- in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday and Saginaw on Saturday -- before hosting Oshawa on Tuesday.
DAVE CHIDLEY/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tearful Windsor Spitfires fans watch a tribute to Mickey
Renaud before a game, Feb. 28, 2008.
Spitfires Pay Tribute To Mickey Renaud
Thursday February 28, 2008
By Chris Johnston, The Canadian Press
Fans lined up in the bitter cold to ensure that the arena was full before the Windsor Spitfires even took the ice, and everyone came clad in red to show support for the home team.
An emotional evening at Windsor Arena was not just a tribute to Mickey Renaud, it was also a night for his former teammates.
It had been almost two weeks since the Ontario Hockey League team played a game, and they were among the more trying weeks of these young men's lives. Renaud died Feb. 18 at the age of 19 after collapsing at his home in nearby Tecumseh.
His mostly teenaged teammates played well in their first game but lost 4-3 to the Belleville Bulls in a shootout on Thursday night.
The evening was full of tributes to Renaud.
His No. 18 was painted on the ice behind each net and represented by a sticker on every players' helmet and sweater. The Spitfires and Bulls also each warmed up in jerseys with Renaud's name and number stitched on the back.
Many of the Windsor players bowed their heads and rubbed their eyes as they took off their Renaud sweaters and placed them in piles on a table at centre ice just before the opening faceoff.
They had been determined to remain strong but were unable to contain all their emotions. The team has met repeatedly with counsellors from victims service to help them with the grieving process after Renaud's death.
"We made sure that everybody had a chance to talk about their emotions," said Bob Boughner, the Spitfires president and head coach. "We suggested that everyone get it out."
There were almost as many red eyes in the building as there were red shirts in the stands during a 10-minute video tribute that was shown before the game. The clips were assembled by assistant coach D.J. Smith and showed Renaud scoring his first OHL goal and being on the winning end of a couple fights.
One of the most emotional moments came after the video when Renaud's older brother Remy performed the ceremonial faceoff. Belleville's Keaton Turkiewicz came forward but no member of the Spitfires joined him as the puck was dropped. Windsor will not name a captain in Renaud's place this season.
His family appreciates the support they've received.
"It's great to see how much everyone cared about Mickey," said Remy Renaud. "This shows that he will not just be missed by our family but by the entire Windsor community."
A Thursday night like this is usually meant for hockey, especially with the way these teams have performed this season. Belleville entered the game as the top team in the Eastern Conference while the Spitfires sat third in the West.
But it was clear that there was much more going on at the 84-year-old arena which is affectionately called "The Barn."
Pictures drawn by grade school kids as a tribute to Renaud hung in the corridors while fans lined up to sign books of condolence. Several display cases also contained some of his memorabilia, including a photo of Renaud in a Calgary Flames jersey that was taken after he was drafted by the NHL team last summer.
The Windsor players wore pensive looks while waiting to take the ice for the pre-game warmup. They hit hands and winked at one another as nearby fans yelled: "Do it for Mickey!"
By the end of the night they could say they had.
"Words can't describe what Mickey meant to us," said Boughner.
With a tough night behind them, the Spitfires jumped straight on a bus for what will be a busy stretch.
They'll play consecutive road games against division rivals this weekend -- in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday and Saginaw on Saturday -- before hosting Oshawa on Tuesday.