by Rhonda Massad
Four months after the tragic death of Dorval teen Tristan Morrisette-Perkins, West Island Hockey retired his jersey last Sunday, November 19, at the Dorval arena. The son, brother, friend and teammate who was killed by a train on July 3rd, at only sixteen years old, was honoured in a special ceremony graced by many.
His teammates and coaches spoke of his dedication and love for hockey. Tristan’s coaches described him as talented, hardworking, coachable and a great teammate. The common thread with each person who spoke was how much they miss him.
Two benches were built out of hockey sticks dedicated to Tristan’s family, with messages from players. One important message was “when the going gets tough Tristan will always be there.”
Hockey West Island and John Rennie High School joined forces to organize the ceremony and Tristan’s team suited up in jerseys with the number six to honour their fallen friend.
“Never would we have imagined standing in this arena watching Tristan’s jersey being retired,” said Tristan’s mother, Julie Morrissette. “It is beautiful but sad at the same time. It is overwhelming to see the amount of love there is in this room. To see how many lives he has touched, how many friends he has made. We stand proud to say that Tristan was a member of Hockey West Island since the age of five.”
Today Tristan’s jersey hangs in the Dorval arena for all to admire and remember with a hope to inspire other young players.
“I have to believe he is here with us today in spirit watching us keeping his game, his memory, and his number alive,” she said.
