The sport of hockey has become a way of life in rural Saskatchewan.聽 When the autumn months give way to cooler weather and the ice is installed and prepped at community rinks around the province, it isn鈥檛 long before crowds pack the stands on any given night and take to cheering on 鈥榯he boys鈥� while clutching a hot coffee and hopefully a winning 50/50 ticket.
In many ways, the sounds of shouting, sticks clapping against the ice, crackling sound systems and air horns going off make up the unofficial soundtrack of Saskatchewan.
Hockey is so woven into the fabric of our small towns and villages that sometimes it鈥檚 about a lot more than a crowd filling a rink to simply watch a game.聽 Sometimes it鈥檚 about an entire community of family, friends and fans coming together to honour someone who has given their life to the sport.
Saturday night, October 28 inside the Kenaston rink was one of those times.
It was on this night that 46-year old Dean Blenkinsop, a long-time player and recent coach of the Kenaston Blizzards senior roster, was honoured for his contributions to the team by way of retiring his jersey #10 in a special ceremony held before an exhibition game between the Blizzards and the neighbouring Loreburn 19ers.
The fact that Dean was diagnosed with cancer a number of years ago undoubtedly added a lot of emotion to the occasion, but for his part, Blenkinsop was outgoing and in great spirits as he donned a brand spanking new Blizzards jersey (a captain鈥檚 jersey, at that) and took to the ice to the loud ovation of a jam-packed crowd inside the Kenaston Arena.
A slideshow presentation was shown at center ice, featuring photos of Dean and highlights from his many years playing hockey; images that covered an expansive timeline highlighting a life enjoyed in the sport, all of it set to a cover of John Denver鈥檚 hit, 鈥淐ountry Roads (Take Me Home)鈥�.
By the end of the slideshow, it was hard to find many dry eyes in the crowd.
Taking the microphone, Dean addressed the large crowd and was choice with his words, thanking everyone for coming out and the Blizzards organization for planning such a special event for him before wishing the boys a good game.
With that, a spotlight shone in the darkness of the rink and highlighted Blenkinsop鈥檚 long-time jersey number to signify that #10 was being retired, and the applause from the standing-room-only crowd once again roared.
Having played senior hockey since 1995 and a coach for Kenaston for the last four years, Dean has been able to enjoy the sport in a variety of ways and said he鈥檚 been #10 all his life, but to him, there was nothing superstitious about keeping the number this whole time, and it was never any specific kind of good luck charm.
Speaking to The Outlook just a few minutes before the ceremony, Dean 鈥� who counts Toronto and Edmonton as two of his favourite pro teams in addition to the close-at-heart Blizzards 鈥� was humbled by the gesture organized by the team and was happy to see so many familiar faces in the rink.
鈥淚鈥檓 very privileged,鈥� said Dean.聽 鈥淭here are a lot of friends here tonight and a lot of good people.聽 I鈥檓 just feeling very privileged about this.鈥�
To say Blenkinsop has a long history with hockey would be an understatement, as he began taking to the sport before most kids learn their ABC鈥檚.聽 For him, everything about it has been one big highlight of his life.
鈥淚鈥檝e been playing since I was probably about three years old,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淚 just love the entertainment of it, as well as the exercise.聽 Everything about it has been a highlight for me.聽 Now coaching has taken over a big part of it.鈥�
Blenkinsop was diagnosed with colorectal cancer a little over nine years ago, but for someone who has been in such a lengthy battle with the disease, he seems to keep a positive attitude as he enjoys a current recovery stage.
鈥淚鈥檇 say that I鈥檓 alright right now,鈥� said Dean. 聽鈥淚鈥檓 in a recovery stage right now, so we鈥檙e hoping things come around.聽 The support has been there big-time, and something like this tonight, I mean, it鈥檚 huge.鈥�
What Dean misses about playing the sport is getting to hit the ice on his home turf, as some of his greatest memories are playing in Kenaston.
鈥淢ostly in this rink playing senior hockey in Kenaston,鈥� he said, on his hockey memories.聽 鈥淎 couple of championship wins here and there; it was huge for me.聽 I miss the exercise and the people; a lot of people I miss about playing the game.鈥�
To the surprise of very few inside the rink in Kenaston, Dean was indeed the star attraction as he welcomed anyone who came up to him to talk his ear off, give him a hug or shake his hand, and it was obvious from the looks of admiration and respect he received that this evening was about a lot more than hockey.
That being said, Blenkinsop鈥檚 beloved Blizzards ended up defeating Loreburn out on the ice, so that may have been the proverbial cherry on top to cap the events of this unforgettable night.
