A special bond
Wings, Hutchinson family lean on one another for support during 2020-21 season
ABRAM-VILLAGE – The sport of hockey never meant more to an Abram-Villagebased junior B team and a Springfield West family than it has during the past seven months.
Darren and Glenda Hutchinson and the Nathan Des-Roches-coached Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings formed a support system for each other following the death of a beloved son and teammate, Alex Hutchinson.
Alex, who played with the Red Wings as an under-age player during the 2019-20 season, and Ethan Reilly died in September when a boat they were in capsized near Alberton in September. Max MacIsaac was also in the boat and was able to swim to shore and call for help.
Every one of his team members participated in the search for him and Reilly.
“Alex had so many good friends on this team, and they looked after him because he was a young player, a smaller player,” said Darren. “When we lost Alex, these boys – and this hockey team – really stepped up with so much support to Glenda and I.
“I can’t say enough about this team, the coaching staff and Nathan. We talk on a daily basis. The boys come over and watch hockey games with Glenda and I. We just bonded so well; it is special. We sure hope to stay connected with these boys in the future.” DesRoches said the Red Wings owe a lot of gratitude to the Hutchinson family. He said the team was hurting in September and October, especially, and the support provided by Darren and Glenda helped the Red Wings through a trying and emotional stretch.
“It was a traumatizing time for our hockey team,” said DesRoches. “When you have a traumatic thing like that happen, hockey takes a back seat.
“To get guys focused, we couldn’t have done it without the Hutchinson family. They
encouraged our group to keep playing, they encouraged our group to be better, and we know that is what Alex would have wanted.”
Red Wings forward and team captain Chandler Wood said the Hutchinson family’s continued support of the Red Wings has been invaluable.
Wood, a close friend of Alex, recalled a poignant conversation with Darren in the fall as a turning point.
“I had a tough time coming to the rink, and Darren told me, ‘I will be at everything and there every step of the way’,” said Wood. “Having them there, we got through it together and kept on pushing. Without them, it’s a totally different season.”
Darren kept true to his word. He attended all practices and games and would chat with the players and coaches after on-ice sessions.
“That kept me going,” said Darren. “It was something I needed to do.
“Not only was it helping me, but I wanted to be there for the boys. It wasn’t just Glenda and I who lost Alex
– it was all his friends, and I needed to be there for the boys.”
When the Red Wings won the franchise’s fourth Island Junior Hockey League (IJHL) championship in a row Wednesday night, Darren and Glenda were part of the onice celebration. They posed for photos with players and team officials holding Alex’s No. 14 jersey.
PRIDE IN THE JERSEY
Darren said it meant a lot for Alex to wear the Red Wings’ uniform.
“He looked up to all these boys, and Alex was so excited to be part of this,” said Darren.
“He couldn’t wait to get this season going.
“It’s hard knowing how much Alex wanted to be a part of this and this championship team. The boys put their heart and soul into winning this for Alex, and Glenda and I appreciate it so much.”
Red Wings forward Connor Morrissey said the Red Wings wanted to win the championship for Alex this season. Although there were stops and starts due to COVID-19, Morrissey said the Red Wings were motivated to fulfil that goal.
Alex not only had an impact on the ice, but Morrissey said he had an impact on every person in the Red Wings’ dressing room last season.
“Every time you talked to him, you knew you were going to get a laugh out of him,” said Morrissey. “It didn’t matter if he knew you for three days or if he knew you all his life; he was always going to talk to you and had a smile on his face.
“He was the definition of a Red Wings’ hockey player, and he was really, really glad to be a part of this organization. I know his parents are really proud of how he played. I can’t say enough good things about him.”