It is with heaviest of hearts that tonight the Management and Staff of both the Whitecourt Wolverines and Scott Safety learned of the tragic loss of Elias Lachance who died earlier today in what has been reported as a traffic collision.
Elias had played for the Wolverines for 2 seasons and was a member of the 2009 & 2010 Championship teams. Most recently, he played with the Wolverine Alumni last weekend.
His friends, the organization in both the Wolverines and Scott Safety families are shocked and extremely saddened over the loss of such a fine young man who had only begun his journey through what was sure to be a promising and fulfilling life.
In closing, all that can be truly said is that Elias was one of the most memorable people I have ever had the pleasure to meet and he left an indelible impression on anyone he came in contact with.
I am personally devastated at this news and cannot express into words the feeling this news has brought to me and my family.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Family and Friends of Elias tonight.
Marc Chayer
Scott Safety
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So that definitely changed my position on the vacation. The Drayton Valley RCMP news release did not confirm the name, but the details were that a Ford pickup swirved out of control, crossed the median and struck Lachance's Dodge Dakota which hit him head on.
The news has been rough to digest. I managed to hold together fairly well all morning, until the release came in at about 8:15. After that, I took off from the station for nearly 2 hours to get things together. I'm still not sure how to react or what to think. I will say this, though. I saw Elias on Saturday night. And I have been keeping in touch with him over the last few months. I know how much he wanted to play in that alumni hockey game last Saturday in Whitecourt. He called Vice President Joey Bouchard and settled their differences, just so he could put the past behind him. He told me he was a changed man, and on Saturday said that "he was the happiest he has been in quite some time." And he was able to wear that Wolverine jersey one more time, and put on a show for the crowd in Whitecourt for one last game.
And if this isn't a tribute to you, then I don't know what is: I normally average around 250-300 blog hits on an average day. During playoffs and provincials, it was up around 400. That was my all time high since I have caught onto the social media wave just over 2 years ago. My blog hits for today? 1045. Almost 700 more hits than I have ever received. Clearly, people love you Elias. Including me.
So I will be thinking of you when I'm on the road to Saskatoon tomorrow for my vacation. And I will be praying for your family and the Kennedy family.
Other notes from today..........
- The Keystone Cup western national junior B championship finished off day number 2 today. The Sherwood Park Knights, the hosts, are undefeated at 3-0. The Alberta champion Blackfalds Wranglers are 2-1, after edging the VIJHL champions 7-6. Both Alberta teams are 1, 2 in the pool. Tomorrow is the final day of the round robin, with the medal round on Sunday.
- The Alberta Cup finishes off on Sunday, too. The Northwest Sharks squad is 3-0 after beating Calgary North 5-3 tonight. Drayton Valley's Kord Pankewicz picked up an assist during the 1st game, but hasn't registered a point since. I'm not sure if he left the tournament to go back to Drayton due to Elias's death.
- The Spruce Grove Saints lost 3-1 to the defending champs Vernon Vipers in the Doyle Cup rematch. The winner goes on to the RBC in Camrose next month.
- And some brief NHL notes from my Canucks game tonight: I thought Chris Higgins played a very, very solid game. A good workmanlike, hard hat and lunch pail game. Was all over the ice, laid hits and never gave up on the puck........is it just me, or is this not J. Hansen's coming out party? And I love how much intensity Victor Oreskovich has been playing with. Its too bad he doesn't really have a "nose for the net." But, he is filling his role perfectly. Boom. Bang. Boom. Crunch. And at this rate, Pat Kane and JT will mail it in by the end of game 3 with bruised bones, broken arms and rattled ear drums. And Duncan Keith. The Vancouver forwards are relentless with the physical game. I'm happy so far. As I said before......no Buff, no win for Chicago. Its over in 4. Maybe, maybe 5. But likely 4.
Thanks for the many, many Facebook posts, Twitter messages and emails over the last 24 hours. I really appreciate it. I won't have access to my email directly over the next few days since I will be on holidays. If you need to get a hold of me, I will be checking messages periodically and blogging regularly.
dave@xm105.com
