He died suddenly, but the spirit and teachings of a beloved Rama hockey coach lives on.
Hundreds packed into the Mask Arena to honour Ryan Crowther on Wednesday night, as the Minor Midget North Central Predators took to the ice for the first time at home since his death.
“Obviously I knew everyone loved Ryan and he touched a lot of lives, but no. This has been way more than expected,” says Sarah Crowther, Ryan’s wife.
The team and fans let Crowther’s family know they’re not alone in this difficult time. The family was presented with a jersey and dropped the puck at centre ice in an emotional ceremony.
Crowther died at the age of 37 last month, while on trip with the team in Chicago. He leaves behind his wife and two kids.
“Hockey’s what brought us together and hockey will always have that special place for us.”
Admission from Wednesday night’s game, about $4,000, is being donated to the family.
“I think that speaks volumes to the impact it's kind of made and I think it's awesome that everyone’s come together to watch the game and show their support,” says Jacob Roberti, a forward with the Predators.
A GoFundMe page has also helped raise $69,370.
