Remembering Dale Hawerchuk one year later
One year ago, the hockey community lost a legend.
Dale Hawerchuk, Hockey Hall of Famer and long-time Barrie Colts coach, lost his battle with cancer on Aug 18, 2020.
He was 57.
His son, Eric Hawerchuk, posted on Twitter Wednesday, "One year ago today we lost our beloved Dale. He was an incredible friend, father, husband, son, brother and teacher but most importantly, a man who cared and always wanted to make this world a better place... We love and miss you. To know him was to love him." #HawerchukStrong."
The outpouring of support was significant for the Colts coach when it was announced in 2019 that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
In April 2020, Hawerchuck celebrated his final round of chemotherapy by ringing the Bell of Hope at Royal Victoria Health Centre.
Three months later, the family announced cancer had returned.
The Toronto-born Hawerchuk played in the NHL for 16 years, having been selected first overall in the 1981 draft by the Winnipeg Jets. He retired from the NHL in 1997 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.
He was the Barrie Colts organization's longest-serving coach.
A memorial to Hawerchuk quickly grew in front of Barrie's Sadlon arena last August as fans dropped by to share their memories and leave their condolences for the Hawerchuck family.
Eric Hawercuck founded HawerchukStrong, an initiative that helps raise money for local groups and raise awareness for cancer.
Barrie council announced in May the entrance to the Sadlon Arena would be renamed Dale Hawerchuk Way and it would be working with the Barrie Colts on a celebration to honour Hawerchucks storied career.
Barrie Colts co-owner Jim Payetta told CTV News last week the details on the event are still in the works and are currently subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
Last week the Winnipeg Jets, where Hawerchuk formerly played, announced a statue, honorary street name and hockey tournament would be named after the man they called Ducky.
Eric Hawerchuck said on social media today, "Miss you every day buddy."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.