HEADLINE

PLAYERS SUPPORTING TROOPS

Monday, November 9, 2009

PLAYERS SUPPORTING TROOPS

Richard Leger remembers taking his sons Marc and Albert to a few Royals games during their youth, where it seemed Marc was always on the edge of his seat.

As a child, Marc played for Munro Feed of Lancaster in the Char-Lan minor hockey program, and his love of the game was evident on those Royals game nights at the civic complex.

"Marc would really get into the game," recalled Richard with a smile. Marc's spirit was present in the civic complex again on Saturday as the Cornwall Colts and Central Junior Hockey League officially announced its support of the Red Ribbon Campaign in support of Canadian troops.

Players from all 12 teams in the CJHL have added a red Support our Troops decal to their helmets, becoming the first Junior A hockey league in country to adopt such a measure. The campaign was officially recognized at the start of Saturday's Colts game against the Gloucester Rangers with a special ceremony featuring Richard and Claire Leger, the parents of the late Sgt. Marc Leger. Sgt. Leger, of Lancaster, was one of the first Canadian casualties in the war in Afghanistan, having died as a result of a friendly fire accident on April 17, 2002.

The Legers were thrilled with the league's decision to sport the ribbons.

"It's wonderful," said Claire, who was selected as the 2005 Silver Cross Mother. "Any way of remembering our soldiers is a good thing."

The Red Ribbon Campaign was founded by Cornwall residents Eleanor Bookman and Brian Goodfellow to raise money and awareness for families of fallen and disabled troops in Afghanistan.

As of Oct. 2009, the campaign had surpassed the $30,000 mark. The red ribbons are visible all over eastern Ontario, including on City of Cornwall police cruisers and fire trucks.

The decision to put the ribbons on the ice came from Colts business and hockey operations manager Mike Piquette, who found plenty of support for the idea when he brought it forward to CJHL Commissioner Kevin Abrams.

"It's the least we can do for the troops," said Piquette. "That's our number one team in Canada."

Piquette said the ribbon isn't intended to be a political statement, but rather a simple acknowledgment of the hard work Canadian troops are doing in the name of all Canadians.

According to Piquette, all of the Colts players -- which includes a large contingent of Americans -- were happy to sport the ribbon on their helmets.

"They're all proud to wear it," he added.

Also on hand for the special event was Kevin Rivette, the founder of Project Goodbye/ Adieu, a fundraiser which strives to promote the creation of a cancer clinic in Cornwall and to honour fallen, disabled and wounded soldiers who served in Afghanistan.

Rivette said the CJHL's support of the Red Ribbon Campaign will help to raise awareness of the cause with local youths.

"What a testament to the youth of our community," he added.

Additional information about Red Ribbon Campaign can be found at www.supportcanadatroops.ca.