Sunday, January 9, 2022
North Saanich, B.C.
Back in 2014, a resident on the Saanich Peninsula Kevin Fry started to make a motion towards the Panorama Recreation Centre putting in an application to compete for Hockeyville. The contest is an annual event that goes right across the Country from the West Coast to the East Coast and is open to any community in Canada. His singular voice initially fell on deaf ears. The following Spring of 2015, Fry once again reached out about the application, this time with a little more urgency. He emailed Coreen and I and Coreen immediately decided she wanted to move forward on the application process. I like to think of myself as a realist and told her that we had about a snowball's chance in an inferno of winning, and its pursuit would be a waste of time. Coreen insisted we move forward.
After the game on the Friday night before the deadline, the volunteers of the Club, Coreen and I all went to the local watering hole for nachos, a ritual that we have been doing every Friday night during the Hockey Season for the past 21 years. Coreen told everyone that we were going to apply for Hockeyville and we all tossed around ideas and volunteer Jason Fletcher was tasked with penning the application. He proposed that Larry Orr, who was our long-time equipment manager, be the face of the application and it was submitted prior to the deadline. A month later, I was watching Hockey Night in Canada on a Saturday evening and they advised that the 10 semi-finalists from across Canada were about to be named, five representing the West and five representing the East. The broadcaster started from West to East and the first name right out of the can was North Saanich. What.....What!? I was shocked.
The next three weeks were crazy beginning with a meeting the next night at the Panorama to pull the Recreation Centre and the Recreation Commission in on what had just happened. And then the Community on the Saanich Peninsula and Greater Victoria and beyond, supported the push and the rest is history. We won $100,000 and hosted an exhibition game between the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks. It was a crazy and unlikey turn of events.
It was a very difficult decision on where the money would be utilized, but our committee eventually agreed that we would do a few things around the Arena and put in the big Video Screen on the North end of the barn. The Panthers have been purchasing equipment each season since to make this screen everything that we envisioned several years ago and although we still have a bit of a ways to go, we are getting closer. Our focus for the screen has always been on enhancing entertainment value for our fans, but little did we know the screen would play such a significant role in a memorial ceremony for Grant Gilbertson. And on Friday night for the pregame ceremony in memory of Grant, the screen helped put a face to the player for those who did not know him, and helped rekindle some special memories for those who did. The feed was streamed live over the Internet and although I do not have numbers, I feel confident in saying that the viewership was quite staggering based on comments we have received. Thank you Hockeyville.
I am not going to review the accident or what happened at the arena once I was informed by Grant's Grandfather Don Colegrave shortly before 8:00 pm Monday evening. That has been reported on and I am sure everyone, including the family and the Panthers, is aware of most of the details. The team was practicing. The practice was stopped and the Coaches and Players gathered around the home bench wondering what could be important enough to stop the practice. I told the group that we would be playing the rest of our season dedicated to the memory of Grant and that he had just passed away in a car accident on his way to the rink. I said a few words and could not hold back my emotions and then wandered back aimlessly to my office. In hindsight, I wish I had stayed rather than leave it to the Coaching Staff to navigate through the next couple of minutes. The boys went off the ice and after I had taken a moment to regroup, I went down into the dressing room to further address our players.
I wish everyone could have had a chance to know Grant, however judging by the outpouring of love and support surrounding his passing, it was clear that there were a lot of people who did. Grant was an 18-year-old young man. I'm sure if you asked his mother Darcie, she would say that he was a young man on some days and on others, a young boy. That is the plight of parenting a teenager. He was dedicated to a number of people and a number of things but as his Grandfather has stated to me a number of times over the past week and then to the public during his speech on Friday night at our game, Grant's true passion was the game of hockey, and he only wanted to play for the Peninsula Panthers. He lived and breathed the game.
Grant was coming into his own as a player. In a Covid-ravaged season last year, he played in 11 of the 12 games the Panthers were involved in - he failed to score and chipped in with two assists. He was learning the ropes of playing Junior hockey in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League and was one of Coach Brad Tippett's favourites. Tippett had fondly nicknamed him 'Gibby', for some reason dropping the letter L. At first it seemed strange but the handle stuck and soon everyone in the Organization called him by the Coach-appointed nickname.
Gibby was having a big year this time around and had scored 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points in the Club's 38 games. He had played in every single game and had taken control of the 2nd line centreman spot on the roster, sitting only behind Logan Speirs. His last game was played the day before the accident last Sunday afternoon as the Panthers knocked off the Saanich Predators 10-3. Grant had three assists, none prettier than on the 10th goal when he busted down on a 2-on-1 with linemate Denver Maloney, feathered some soft sauce over a Preds defenceman's stick, and then admired Maloney as he came across the top of the crease at full speed, opened up Saanich Goaltender Andrew Brabender and then tucked the puck through his legs for his 3rd of the afternoon. It would prove to be Gilbertson's last point. Denver later said in an Interview with CHEK news that when Gibby left the rink on Sunday after the game he said to Maloney, "Great game, see you at practice tomorrow."
The Victoria Cougars and Peninsula Panthers have been like oil and water for many years and have formed one of the stronger rivalries in the League. And as fate would have it, the Cougars would invade the friendly confines of the Panorama Recreation Centre on Friday night, the Panthers first game back after the accident on Monday. Leading up to the game I knew there was going to be an issue with crowd size with limits on attendance imposed by the Provincial Heath Office and Dr. Bonnie Henry. I emailed Cougars GM Tony Carlson earlier in the week, we have a close working relationship and see the world on the same level for the most part. We agreed that we should work to make the game better for players but when the scoreboard is turned on, the competitive juices cause us to go into our separate corners and I like that. I explained to Tony that it was going to be a struggle with attendance and then ended the note. He was quick to respond clearly seeing where I was going and he told me that he would ask all Cougars' fans to stay home to allow friends, family, Panthers players' family members and friends, and Panthers fans to attend. I told him how appreciative I was but what he offered next was a surprise. I had already been called by Cougars President Marcel Fisher earlier in the day and he advised that the Cougars would like to present a gift basket to Grant's family at the pregame ceremony and after a couple of back and forths with Cougars Coach Brody Coulter, I was told that Keiran Strange requested the honour of making the presentation to the family. A bit later, I received a lengthy email from Tony and he offered a Counsellor's services, a Professional who was contracted by the Victoria Cougars. He told me she would be over to Victoria from the Vancouver area in a couple of weeks and the Victoria Cougars would pick up any associated costs, to help our Club out in the roughest of times. We had already made arrangements for a professional counselling service for our boys but the offer will never be forgotten, it was a kind gesture and did not go unnoticed.
There have been a number of teams around the VIJHL who have stepped up to assist. Media guru Mark Berry from the Campbell River Storm helped out with some of the presentation materials used in the ceremony as did Cody Carlson, Coach/GM of the Saanich Predators. He partnered with Brad Tippett to secure four impactful video messages for Friday night from Oilers Coach Dave Tippett, Oilers players Connor McDavid and Tyson Barrie who played his Minor Hockey out of JDF, and Matt Irwin who currently plays for the Washington Capitals and played his Minor Hockey out on the Peninsula. There are too many people here to mention but it was absolutely heartwarming as emails, texts, tweets, and phone calls poured in. On Tuesday, Coreen and I started responding at 9:00 am and did this all day long for the next fifteen hours and also initiated the process of preparing for a special ceremony on Friday night. It was all so surreal - as this entire week has been.
On Wednesday evening, we were to play the Westshore Wolves however Ian Birnie from the Wolves Organization contacted me on Tuesday and advised that there were so many of Grant's friends rostered on the Wolves who were significantly impacted, and that the Wolves could simply not play. As a result, the game was postponed. On Wednesday afternoon, there were a lot of calls made and the Wolves invited our players out for a game of shinny. I spoke to our Captain Riley Braun and he indicated that almost the entire team wanted to participate and would attend. I decided that no coaches nor I would attend, that this would truly be a bunch of players from two sides who were all hurting and who needed to feel the wind in their face at the rink and be with others who were hurting just like them, in order to begin the grieving process. The Wolves supplied drinks and pizza after the ice slot was over and I thank them very much for coming up with the suggestion and supporting not only their team, but ours as well.
To add yet another layer, I had to make decisions as the trade deadline loomed ahead on Monday afternoon. We have a strong Club but other strong Clubs in the VIJHL were improving by making some preemptive moves ahead of the deadline. We had been in discussions with the Saanich Predators Coach/GM Cody Carlson for probably three weeks about obtaining their top forward Kyle Brown. We knew that Kyle would fit like a glove with our group, but had to give up something in return. Several names were in the conversation but I was not prepared to move some players that Cody wanted. Last Sunday after we beat the Predators and the day before Grant's death, I believe that Cody was reading the tea leaves and was now prepared to continue serious negotiations and start building his Club for a view to September and next season. The time to make a deal for Kyle had arrived. And then we were dealt with Monday's circumstances. With everything that transpired, we did not speak until Thursday, the day before our game against the Cougars. Coreen and I were up early and working till midnight each night on the pregame ceremony for Grant and for his family, but on Thursday Cody and I spoke about making the deal. It had been on my mind ever since Monday evening when I thought about this trade piece while still having to deal with the tragedy. I have GM'ed at the Junior A and the Junior B level for two decades and this was the hardest decision I have ever had to make, bar none. Cody was interested in our talented defenceman, Griffin Gilmour, that was clear. I had to weigh the impact of a trade on Griff and every other player in our room vs. not making the move and in two months when in a hot playoff series battle, not having that special player (Kyle) in our lineup. I went back and forth, I thought about it every day. I weighed everything I possibly could. I spoke to some solid people whom I respect and whose opinions I value, and then I made the decision. We traded Griffin to the Predators on Thursday, but I told Cody that I did not want to tell Griff about the trade until Saturday afternoon. I did not want him to feel that added weight going into a group counselling session that we were holding as a team on Thursday night, and then at Grant's memorial ceremony before the game on Friday. I also asked Cody to allow Griffin to come to anything we will do as a team in the coming months, including more counselling and for Griffin to be allowed to talk to me and meet with me anytime for the rest of this season without it being considered tampering. Cody truly understood the ramifications of this and agreed without any hesitation at all. We did up the paperwork and after he let Kyle know, I called Kyle and we had a good chat. He too seems like a fine young man and that is what we had heard about him prior to making the deal. Kyle would be in our lineup on Friday against the Cougars. And Griffin would be told about the deal on Saturday and would also be told that he can remain as part of our group in everything we do except practicing and playing the game. Griffin has been with our Club for two years and is loved by our players and coaches in the room. Our players and Organization will support him to the nth degree and he needs and deserves that, as does every other player in our room.
Friday was a busy day but a great many of our volunteers arrived and helped with the load. I met with the Victoria Cougars Coaching Staff and Players at 5:40 pm and went over the opening ceremonies. I was actually overwhelmed at how repectful and receiving their group was just two hours before a game for first place in the South. I then spoke to our players and Coaches and I could feel they were locked on every word. I saw a photo on our Facebook page that Christian Stewart took in the dressing room at that time of our meeting, I was not aware that he was even behind me. There were a lot of moving parts at that stage.
The crowd began to arrive at 5:30 pm and at 6:55 pm I checked in with the ladies at the front. Jaci Braun and Jackie Dawes were helping at the front table and they told me that we had hit the number allowed and it was time to close ticket sales. I told a long lineup that they would not be able to get into the game and that was heartbreaking. One of them was a former Panthers Player and his girlfriend and that was a tough moment. Coreen and I had decided that ticket priority would be given to family and anyone the family wished to be at the game. Next would be families from our players and anyone they wanted in the game. And then finally, long time fans and ticket holders would be admitted. It would then flow to first-come first-served and as I mentioned, 35 minutes before the game and with lineups swelling we had to shut off sales. We encouraged everyone to watch on HockeyTV and had made arrangements with them and our League for the live streaming, including pregame and game, to be available at no charge. I am sure that not all the people who should have been in the barn actually got in and if you are one of those, we are truly sorry. We did the best we could and I know that the process was not perfect in any way.
The pregame ceremony went off exactly as Coreen and I had both hoped and planned. Our off-ice staff worked extremely hard to make our vision come to life, they were and are amazing, loyal and talented people. Grandpa Don stole the show when he came out and read a four-page speech that he had prepared. His voice quivered and he struggled at times, but he got through it and it was as impactful as anything during the evening. Don had a plan that if he was unable to finish, I would take over in reading the letter, but I could not have done the same justice in that moment - and I told Don just that when he read the last word on the last page.
Don and I spoke a number of times during the week and on Tuesday, he told me that he did not think the family would be attending, that they just couldn't muster the strength. But I encouraged him, and I encouraged a few key people he knows to encourage him, and for him to encourage his daughter and Grant's mom Darcie and Grant's brother Garett that it was important for them to be there. And the 5-6 minutes on the ice for Don did not leave a dry eye in the house and was impactful and so very important in the grieving process in my mind.
We played the game and I thought we played well enough to win but in the end, just could not pull it off. I was on the bench in place of Coach Tippett as he has taken the incident and the last number of days as hard as anyone. Before the start of the 3rd period, Cougars Coach Brody Coulter leaned around the glass which separates the two benches and asked if we wanted to shake hands after the game. I thought this was a great idea and another touch of class on a nice evening. The players and coaches shook hands and the crowd gave a really warm ovation.
The boys quickly took off their skates and put on their shoes and then went up to the concourse to meet the crowd who were informed to wait after the game for the arrival of the players. Our boys passed out a small gift for each and every fan in memory of Grant and to remember the evening. I spoke to Darcie at this point, she had stayed for the entire game as had her family. My favourite moment of the evening occurred when Darcie told me she was so happy that the family came and she expressed how important the evening was to them. She gave me some real peace when I was trying to be the one to provide the same to her.
Darcie and Sadie Fitzpatrick, who was Grant's girlfriend, came down into our dressing room after all the gifts had been passed out to the fans and they gave out a rose to each player. The roses each had a card with the Players' number on the outside and on the inside was the inscription:
#26 Grant Gilbertson
"A Panther Forever"
Garett was also in the room with the boys, Darcie and Sadie and Aleko Sdrakas read a letter from Sadie to the Team that was so very touching and humorous at the same time. There was an outpouring of love and emotion. I shared a hug with Darcie and with Garett and I think it was just a great ending to an almost perfect evening, with all things considered.
On Saturday afternoon, I called Griffin and I told him about the trade to the Preds and he was obviously upset over what had transpired. I let him know that Cody would be calling him very soon and I told him that he could continue to be part of our group and encouraged him to stay close to everyone in the Organization. Griff is a great young man and we care deeply for him as much as the other boys left on our roster.
We will retire Grant's #26 Jersey and Garett wore the white version during the game and on the way home after the game. We introduced the Grant Gilbertson Memorial - Friendship Award during the ceremony. Moving forward, the winner will be selected by our Captain each season, nobody knows more about the room and the players in our room each year than the Captain of our Club. We will wear #26 on our helmets for the rest of the season and judging from the response and requests from the other teams in our League, other teams in Minor Hockey, Junior Hockey, and even some Beer League teams, it is my feeling that there will be hundreds of #26's on helmets across Vancouver Island.
We practice tomorrow night and then will have another group counselling session in the dressing room after leaving the ice. And from here, our boys will get individual counselling sessions if required.
Prior to Gibby's passing, we were white hot. After our win on Sunday we had 16 wins, 1 overtime loss and one regulation loss in our last 18 games over what was a very difficult stretch in our schedule. The closing chapter has yet to be written on our season but no matter what that chapter reads, unquestionably Grant's death will be the most significant moment for our Club this year and in fact for the past 20 years since Panthers player Steve Simpson was tragically taken from all of us in a motor vehicle accident back on November 2nd, 2001.
To our group of young men in our dressing room and that includes Griffin, I could not be more proud of the way each and every one of you have responded since Monday night. You have reacted to this tragedy in such a mature, responsible, compassionate manner, when I know all of your hearts are breaking. Your support for Grant's family and for each other has been absolutely remarkable and amazing and even the thought of it brings tears to my eyes and warmth to my heart.
To our group of parents, you were all there for our Organization in our darkest hour and Coreen and I have no way of showing our gratitude except to tell you how important you all are.
To our volunteers and coaching and team operational staff, once again you responded without question or hesitation and without regard to your personal time and were there when Coreen and I and the Peninsula Panthers Organization needed you the most. You all know how much we treasure every single one of you.
This week will be indelibly etched in the memories of Grant's family, Panthers teammates and friends forever. Our wish for Grant's family is that they are able to find some peace soon.
And for Grant Gilbertson, #26 for the Peninsula Panthers, I hope you Rest in Peace son.
Pete Zubersky, Owner
Peninsula Panthers Hockey Club
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