Barrie paid tribute to Dale Hawerchuk Saturday night.
A banner was lifted high up to the rafters at the Sadlon Arena prior to the Barrie Colts' OHL game as an emotional capacity crowd heard tributes paid to the team’s beloved former head coach.
Hawerchuk led the team from 2010 to 2019 before stepping down to deal with a cancer diagnosis that would later cut his life short in 2020 at just 57-years-old.
Friends and family members were on hand Saturday night as the team and fans paid their respects to the NHL star and Hockey Hall of Famer.
All eyes were on the banner raising, which was adorned with his number 10 from his playing days.
The planned ceremony had been previously postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was well worth the wait for many in attendance.
The pregame ceremony prior to the Colts taking on the Peterborough Petes featured guest speakers, and included a video tribute played on the scoreboard that featured highlights from his storied career as both a player and a coach.
Also on display was commissioned artwork depicting Hawerchuk throughout his NHL days with the Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, as well as his Canada Cup victories with Team Canada.
