'We always remember': 2nd annual memorial game pays tribute to beloved teammate Luke West
It's been almost two years since local Lacrosse player Luke West and five others tragically died in an August 2022 car crash on McKay Road. On Sunday, the Barrie Bombers and Huntsville Hawks – the two teams that West had strong ties to – faced off in a special exhibition game to honour the 22-year-old's legacy.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Luke West was a long-time member of Barrie's Bombers Junior C lacrosse team, having played from the age of 14 and returning as a volunteer coach during the 2022 season after his playing career.
"He was a true leader in the dressing room, so on and off the floor, a true leader as well as in the community," said Mike Hales, coach of the Barrie Bombers Jr. C Lacrosse Team. "We play for Luke every day. Every game we play for him. And that's why we keep living for him. We keep his number above our bench. We always remember Luke."
West followed in his father David's footsteps by playing lacrosse. The elder West is a Huntsville Hawks lacrosse legend.
"Westy was one of the toughest guys around back and back in the day. He was a strong kid. A Very strong kid. Luke was too," said Karl Carnduff of the Huntsville Hawks.
The Bombers retired Luke's number 11 jersey last April at the first memorial game played in his honour, while the Huntsville Hawks dedicated a seat in his memory at Jack Bionda Arena.
"He was always one of those guys that you wanted with you, behind you all the time," said Logan Flanagan, former teammate of Luke West. "He never gave up. The heart was always there."
A special ceremony before the game honoured Luke's former teammates and players he coached.
Proceeds from the game will support the Barrie SPCA, with the goal of surpassing the $1,700 raised last year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Canada expands list of banned firearms to include hundreds of new models and variants
The Canadian government is expanding its list of banned firearms, adding hundreds of additional makes, models and their variants, effective immediately.
LIVE UPDATES Anger, vitriol against health insurers filled social media in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO's killing
The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson used ammunition emblazoned with the words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose,' a law enforcement official said Thursday. Here's the latest.
Man wanted for military desertion turns himself in at Canada-U.S. border
A man wanted for deserting the U.S. military 16 years ago was arrested at the border in Buffalo, N.Y. earlier this week.
Life expectancy in Canada: Up last year, still down compared to pre-pandemic
The average Canadian can expect to live 81.7 years, according to new death data from Statistics Canada. That’s higher than the previous year, but still lower than pre-pandemic levels.
The National Weather Service cancels tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after 7.0 earthquake
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast.
These foods will be hit hardest by inflation in 2025, according to AI modelling
The new year won’t bring a resolution to rising food costs, according to a new report that predicts prices to rise as much as five per cent in 2025.
Pete Davidson, Jason Sudeikis and other former 'SNL' cast members reveal how little they got paid
Live from New York, it’s revelations about paydays on 'Saturday Night Live.'
The world has been warming faster than expected. Scientists now think they know why
Last year was the hottest on record, oceans boiled, glaciers melted at alarming rates, and it left scientists scrambling to understand exactly why.
'At the dawn of a third nuclear age,' senior U.K. commander warns
The head of Britain’s armed forces has warned that the world stands at the cusp of a 'third nuclear age,' defined by multiple simultaneous challenges and weakened safeguards that kept previous threats in check.