By Jan Dean
ON Sunday, Dec. 15, the Sailors Junior C hockey organization joined with the Port Dover Minor Hockey Association for the second annual Luke Johnson Teddy Bears for Hope event.
The Johnson family took to centre ice where Dan Johnson, his wife Jill, and children Pearce and Hosanna took part in the unveiling of Luke’s #2 banner.
It was just over a year ago that the Sailors signed Luke Johnson to a one-day contract with the Sailors. He scored the first goal for the Sailors and a cloud of teddy bears was tossed to the ice.
It had been a fundraiser for Luke and his family as he battled cancer for the second time in his short life. The hockey community stepped up, along with friends, classmates and so many others.
After Luke lost his battle with cancer in July at age 8, the PDMHA announced it would honour Luke’s memory by retiring his Pirates #2 jersey.
On Sunday, Luke’s family unveiled his #2 Pirates banner to an arena packed with those who knew Luke and those inspired by him. Attendance was pegged at 565 and most of them seemed to be carrying at least one teddy bear.
Port Dover Sailors and the visiting Glanbrook Rangers lined one side of the rink and stood to attention.
Dan spoke movingly about Luke. The family skated around the rink once in silence before the banner was displayed. Pearce, wearing his brother’s #2, shot the puck into an empty net.
Then 12-year-old Chloe Truong sang O Canada, demonstrating talent and poise beyond her years.
The Teddy Bear Toss was set to happen at the first Sailors goal of the game. It was on everybody’s minds as the game began.
It was a fierce back and forth from the first puck drop. The first goal was on a power play scored by Glanbrook’s Gavyn Buch at 11:56 of the first period.
It wasn’t until 16:32 that Sailors Captain Tyler Matthews put the puck in the net with assists from Dylan Courrier and Kiefer MacNeil. The captain celebrated on the ice and teddy bears rained down.
It took some time to gather them up but nobody minded. The whole thing was awesome.
When the stuffed toys were cleared, the game continued.
The last goal of the period was scored alone and short-handed by Glanbrook’s Max Schaubel and the period ended with Glanbrook up 2–1.
Second period was even faster than the first.
At 1:07 Sailor Aiden Cloet scored with assists from Dylan Courrier and Trevor Nunn to even the score 2–all.
At 3:33 Glanbrook’s Max Schaubel scored his second goal of the game.
Again Sailor Aiden Cloet evened the score, this time at 3–all, with assists from Trevor Nunn and Dylan Courrier at 6:37.
At 12:17, Sailor Dylan Courrier scored on a power play with assists from Max Jolley and Trevor Nunn to put the Sailors up 4–3.
However two Glanbrook goals, the first at 15:00 in the second period scored by Evan Grigor and the second 33 seconds later scored by Gabe Huigenbos, put the Rangers up 4–5.
As is traditional, there was a Chuck-a-puck between the second and third periods, but this time 150 pucks were chucked.
And when they called the 50/50 draw later in the third period the payout was $450.
Third period was a nail-biter. At 4:44 Glanbrook’s Max Schaubel scored to put them up 4–6.
It wasn’t until 15:17 that Sailor Aiden Cloet scored his third goal of the game for a hat trick, assisted by Dylan Courrier and Trevor Nunn on a power play. That made the game a one-point game.
Until 18:59 when Sailor Carter Tomlinson scored on a power play assisted by Dylan Courrier and Matt McRuer to tie the game at 6–all and force an overtime period.
The Sailors and Rangers played three-on-three for the fourth period until 2:39 when Glanbrook’s Jack Ormond scored unassisted to end the game 6–7.
Glanbrook goalie Jason Sviergula got the win for stopping 28 of 34 shots while Kiefer MacNeil stopped 38 of 45 shots impressively for the loss.
It was disappointing to lose, but it was a great game.
“We’ve found our groove,” said Sailors Captain Tyler Matthews. “We’re still battling but we have systems we trust and we’re getting better as a team.”
He said it was fun triggering the Teddy toss with his goal but admitted there was extra pressure to score.
“Really it was an honour for the Sailors to be part of an event honouring Luke,” said Tyler. “We all feel for the family.”
All the teddy bears collected will be donated to the Caring for Cancer community.
The PDMHA sold Pirates’ “jibbitz” – those little medals people put on their Crocs.
The 50/50 and Chuck-a-puck raised funds, as did the raffle of five Brantford Bulldogs tickets.
As a special treat, volunteers Connor Wingrove and Roxanne Poort and Scotlynn ran the concession stand for the event. Scotlynn and volunteers will run the concession again for the Brooks Lowe Hockey Jamboree for U7 and U8 players on Dec. 28.
The proceeds from the draws and concession stand will go to construction of the Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice.
Patrick Kelly, president of the PDMHA, was delighted with all the support for the Teddy Bear Toss from the community and the money raised at the event that would go to building a hospice.
The next Sailors game is in Port Dover on Sunday, Jan. 5, at 2 p.m. against the Dundas Blues.
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Originally published December 18, 2024
