Former Morinville Jets Assistant Coach Alan Fraser joins Terry and Marjorie McRae and the captains of the Morinville Jets and St. Albert Merchants in a ceremonial puck drop at Sunday’s game. – Stephen Dafoe Photo
By Stephen Dafoe
Morinville – The Morinville Jets held a special moment of remembrance before Sunday night’s home game to honour the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers and the memory of teammate Nick McRae who was killed Sept. 3 in an ATV accident south or Edson.
McRae, remembered for his love of life and his ability to spread that love to those he came in contact with, was honoured prior to the game when the team retired his number 11 jersey. The team has worn McRae’s number on their sleeves this season in memory of their fallen teammate and raised a number 11 Jet jersey to the rafters near the scoreboard Sunday night where it will remain. McRae was buried in this actual Morinville Jets jersey.
Former Morinville Jets Coach Scott Rodda, a man who delivered a moving eulogy at McRae’s funeral in September, organized the jersey night and spoke of McRae’s love of life and love of hockey.
A Nick McRae Award has been established in his memory as well as a scholarship. The former recognizes players with the qualities and attitude McRae possessed on and off the ice; the latter will be awarded to a Morinville Jet apprenticing in a trade as McRae did.
