MINDEMOYA—The Mindemoya Minor Hockey Association (MMHA) held a memorial jersey retirement ceremony for local hockey player Kyle Smith, 20, who passed away at Christmas.
“Good evening and thank you everyone for coming tonight. We will begin with a ceremonial puck drop. Please welcome Kyle’s grandpa Larry Watson and uncle Kyle Watson to the ice (along with Mindemoya Thunder captain Landen Smith, Kyle’s brother, and Gore Bay Bruins captain Grayson Orford),” said Brian Stapleton, coach of the Mindemoya Thunder U-18 hockey team prior to a playoff game in the Mindemoya arena last Friday evening.
“I would like everyone to take notice of Kyle’s jersey hanging at centre ice and think of him as we play one of his favourite songs,” said Mr. Stapleton.
Mr. Stapleton explained, “Tonight, everyone has gathered here to play or watch a hockey game, but before we do that there is something more important we need to do. Tonight, we remember, we honour and we play for a young man that was taken from us far too soon.”
“Kyle played his entire hockey career here in Mindemoya, making lasting memories each season,” said Mr. Stapleton. “It is the Mindemoya Hockey Association’s sincere honour to be able to retire Kyle’s No. 4 jersey. Starting next season, no player from Mindemoya will wear Kyle’s No. 4. This is now Kyle’s number and always will be.”
“The following words were prepared by Paul Sheppard, which I will be reading on his behalf,” said Mr. Stapleton. “It is with deepest regret that I have to make a speech for this memorial, but Adam and Erin (Smith, Kyle’s parents), it is an honour to do so. I am proud to have been little Butch’s coach.”
“For some that don’t know, I have coached for many years in Mindemoya,” wrote Mr. Sheppard. “I think I was on the bench for over 10 years with Kyle. I always enjoyed trying to push him a little harder as he was the biggest kid on the ice by at least a foot.”
“I used to tell him, ‘You have to be more like uncle Butch.’ He was always a gentle giant on the ice and maybe it’s a good thing he wasn’t like his uncle because by the age of 13 he would have spent all his time in the box of shame (penalty box), just like his uncle did,” wrote Mr. Sheppard. “No matter where I met Kyle, at school, the street or anywhere at all, he always spoke to me. For most of you, you wouldn’t know this unless you watched Mindemoya hockey back in the 1900s. Kyle and I had another bond, we both wore No. 4. I would like to think he picked that number because of me—ha. But probably like the rest of us, it was the number we were first given.”
Mr. Sheppard wrote, “Adam and Erin, you have done so much for Mindemoya hockey; president or manager, the list goes on and on, and you did so without many thanks. While doing all that you have also achieved something even greater, raising four great young men. All of us will never forget Kyle. May you rest easy, little buddy, and the No. 4 rests with you. Proud to have worn number four.”
Everyone joined in a moment of silence followed by the start of the hockey game.
Adam Smith told the Expositor prior to the game, “It’s pretty spectacular what the minor hockey association is doing. It’s been a pretty rough go the last couple of months.”
“Kyle certainly didn’t deserve that (he battled cancer for five years),” said Mr. Smith. “He always had a great attitude. He made things easier for everyone else.”
“Kyle loved hockey, he had surgery in 2019 and was not able to play anymore,” said Mr. Smith. “Hockey was his main go-to hobby.”
“The support from the community has been overwhelming,” stated Mr. Smith.
Kyle William Lawrence Smith passed away on December 25, 2023, at the age of 20. Kyle is survived by his parents Adam and Erin Smith (Watson), his older brother Ethan (Aryanna), twin brother Ashton, youngest brother Landen, grandparents Larry and Laura Watson of Sandfield and Shelley and Wade Ingold of Glencoe, his girlfriend Naomi Naokwegijig, many aunts, uncles, cousins and family Kyle loved dearly.
