CROSS REMEMBERED
Five last barks signal the end of an era as team says goodbye to 89-year-old facility
Fans wearing the jersey of Humboldt Broncos assistant coach Mark Cross who was killed in the April 6 bus crash, watch the U of S Huskies take on Cross’ former team the York University Lions at Rutherford Rink. The exhibition game Sunday was played in honour of Cross and was the last game to be played at the Rutherford Rink.
That’s it. No more barking at the Dog House.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team played its final game at old Rutherford Rink, closing out the Mark Cross Humboldt Strong Remembrance Tour with a 5-2 victory Sunday over the visiting York University Lions.
A final string of five barks was heard over the public address system after the last Huskie goal was scored. It was a historical night on many levels.
The rink — now 89 years old — saw its very last Huskie hockey game and, surprisingly enough, there were no rust delays.
Not surprisingly, there was a lineup of fans to get inside. And not surprisingly, there were also lineups to use the small washroom facilities.
Overall, Rutherford Rink was — and is — in moving mode.
Things are being boxed up. Posters have been stripped down. The players’ lounge was literally being dismantled during Sunday ’s game when the flat-screen TV was taken down during the second intermission and hauled away.
The Canada West and U Sport (Canadian Interuniversity Sport/ Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union) championship banners remained for now. There were 22 of them still hanging when the game finished.
“Yeah, I am (going to miss it),” said Huskies’ longtime supporter and author P.J. Kennedy, a fixture at the games for decades. “It means so much. I know how much history is here, how many players have come through here, how parents of players, how many friends of players have been in this barn over the years. I’m sad that we’re leaving but I’m also pleased that the Huskies will have a place to play worthy of their talents.”
At the end of last season, Kennedy took a chip off the north-side interior wall at Rutherford, where he has set up his lawn chair for so many seasons. He has this souvenir piece professionally mounted and framed, honouring the Rutherford years from 1929-2018.
“I look at it every day in my office,” he said.
Prior to the game, the Huskies paid tribute to a longtime supporter and Huskie coach Dave Adolph’s father-in-law, Ken Britton, who died last week. The family brought his ashes for the final game at Rutherford Rink.
“He was here,” noted Adolph. “His urn was here tonight.”
Adolph was asked if he was going to miss the old barn.
“I’m not going to miss this place one bit — I’m really not,” offered Adolph, whose team closed out the pre-season with a perfect 4-0 record. “It’s certainly served its purpose, but it’s been done for a few years. We’ve been patching this thing together for a long time.”
While the upcoming move to a brand-new Merlis Belsher Place is exciting, there is also some uncertainty.
“It’s a whole new production over there. We lose our home-ice advantage a little bit but maybe we gain it back a bit. We’re a pretty skilled team that can play in the open ice. Who knows. I really don’t know.”
Jordan Tkatch, with a pair, Carson Stadnyk, Gordie Ballhorn and Jaimen Yakubowski scored for Saskatchewan, which led 2-0 and 4-1 by periods.
It was the third game in four nights for the York Lions, who also lost to the Canada West’s University of Regina Cougars and University of Calgary Dinos.
Mark Cross — who was among the 16 people who died as a result of the April 6 crash involving the Humboldt Broncos team bus — played five seasons at York.
His parents and girlfriend, Molly, were on hand for the ceremonial faceoff prior to the game.
It was a highly spirited and physical contest but, in the end, each team saluted the Rutherford Rink faithful and both teams joined forces for a group photo.
Meanwhile, many fans, former players and coaches took one last look inside Rutherford.
“I’m going to miss this place,” said former Huskie player Matt Spafford.
“I’ve been coming here my whole life. It’s like another home.”
It’s certainly served its purpose, but it’s been done for a few years. We’ve been patching this thing together for a long time.