'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
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.