INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Eagles honoured the late Larry Reid at the Oct. 20 home game against the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs.
Reid, a legendary Innisfail minor hockey coach, was involved with the Eagles for about 10 years, playing but also including stints as a coach and as general manager. He passed away in December.
Ryan Dodd, general manager and assistant coach of the Eagles, said Reid would be honoured with a “little pre-game ceremony” where Reid's family members would be on the ice, and there would be a speech about what Reid did for Innisfail.
A family member was set to drop the ceremonial puck.
Dodd said the Eagles planned to donate the team's half of the 50/50 draw proceeds to the coaching development fund that has been established in Reid's name.
Vern Fox, one of the organizers of the Larry Reid Memorial Coaching Development Fund and an alumni of the 1962-'63 Innisfail Pontiacs midget hockey team, was travelling from Port Moody, B.C. to be at Friday's game.
“I just couldn't miss it,” Fox said in an interview a few days before the game. Fox has also previously suited up for the Eagles in years past.
He hoped to have a table set up to give out information about the coaching development fund, but said Friday's game was really about the Eagles remembering Reid.
“This evening is for the Eagles to honour Larry and his family,” Fox said.
Fox said the 1962-'63 Pontiacs were significantly influenced by Reid's teachings about hockey and more.
“He taught us an awful lot, not just about hockey but about life,” Fox said.
Al Scott, another Pontiac alumni and organizer of the fund, said in an interview from Dartmouth, N.S., that the Eagles have been wonderful about involving the fund and have a plan to put information about the fund on its webpage.
Scott said a number of locations in Innisfail, like the arena, Town of Innisfail municipal office and ATB branch, have information about the fund for those interested in donating.
The fund, launched in July, has been established to put money towards coaching development in Innisfail minor hockey. Reid encouraged coaches to further their skills.
“It's been a lot of fun and it's been rewarding to see the outpouring of support for this fund,” Scott said. He said the hope is to raise $50,000 to turn it into an endowment.
“Larry was really important to us. We learned a lot at every practice,” Scott said.
Meanwhile, the Eagles organization will be honouring three generations of Innisfail's Simpson family who have played with the hockey team. The Simpson Heritage Game between the Eagles and the Rosetown Red Wings will start at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29 at the Arena.
Vern Fox, former Innisfail Eagle and alumni of the 1962-'63 Innisfail Pontiacs midget hockey team
"He taught us an awful lot, not just about hockey but about life."
