Shield Championship Alumni Game

GRAVENHURST - It was a melancholy drive for Doug Adams as he motored up to Muskoka this weekend from the city.

It was the same trip Adams had taken countless times some four to five years ago to see his son Jon play for the South Muskoka Shield junior A hockey team.

On this particular car ride, Adams was again going north because of his son, but sadly not to see him play. He was going to celebrate Jon’s life with his adopted family.

Jon Adams’ died this past summer, and to remember his contribution to the Shield, his life and junior hockey career was commemorated prior to the start of Saturday’s alumni game at the Graeme Murray Arena between members of the 2009 championship team and the current South Muskoka Shield squad.

The ceremony for his late son visibly moved Adams as he had teary eyes when he dropped the puck between current Shield member Alfred Panelin-Borg and Chris Vandertas of the alumni team to officially start the game.

“It was emotional,” Adams said after the centre ice ceremony. “It brought back a lot of memories, good memories, such as driving up here from the city every time to watch him play, the way the team accepted him, the way Susan put him up.  He came halfway through his first year he was accepted right away.”

Some of the alumnus had suited up with Adams during his time with the Shield, and many of the players skated up to their former teammate’s father to shake his hand and hug him at the conclusion of the memorial ceremony.

The club officially retired Adams’ number 10 sweater, and the elder Adams was presented with a memorial plaque in Jon’s honour by Susan Cook, the team’s billet co-ordinator and Jon’s billet during his time with the Shield.

Jon Adams played two seasons with the South Muskoka Shield and in 111 league games, he scored 56 goals and 142 points in helping lead the Shield to two successive appearances in the Russell Cup finals in 2010 and 2011.

Jon would continue his hockey career after his days with South Muskoka were over, trying his hand in the pro ranks overseas.

In honour for his dedication to this team and the community, members of the South Muskoka Shield will wear a commemorative sticker on the back of their helmets this year with Jon’s number 10, signifying the fact that Jon always had his teammates’ back.

The Greater Metro Junior Hockey League has also recognized Jon’s love of the game and has announced the renaming of its annual award for the best defensive forward in his memory.

As for the game, both sides put on a good show for three periods, and the alumni won the game over their younger charges. But there was sportsmanship abound, as the two sides came together for a collaborative team picture, and the younger Shield players invited the alumni to join them in their traditional post-game salute at centre ice.

The game was held as a fundraiser for the club, and a dance was held for players and fans at the legion later that night.

Courtesy of Gravenhurst Banner & Brent Cooper:
http://www.muskokaregion.com/sports-story/5935619-emotional-time-for-shield-family-during-alumni-game/