Staff
Trying to find a more dedicated Muskie hockey fan than Cam Smith would have been about as difficult as finding proper decorum in the House of Commons during Question Period.
Smith, 63, passed away Aug. 27 at the Rainycrest Long-Term Care here from a massive infection.
It was a sad ending for a man who lived most of his life with a smile on his face despite his life-long health issues—and who had an undeniable passion for all local hockey teams, but especially the Muskies.
That loyal support will be recognized by the two Muskie hockey teams, which each will hold special tributes to Smith before their regular-season home-openers in the coming week.
The Muskie girls will hold the event before facing the Dryden Eagles this Saturday (Nov. 14) at 7:15 p.m. at the Ice For Kids Arena while the boys will do the same prior to their season-starter next Tuesday (Nov. 17) against the Kenora Broncos.
“I think it’s wonderful,” June Smith said Monday about the teams taking the time to honour her late son.
“I think of how fortunate it is that we lived in a town like Fort Frances that was small enough and had people caring enough to support Cam while he enjoyed the game so much.
“If we lived in a larger place, I don’t think it would have happened.
“The only way to describe Cam’s love for the game was passion,” she added. “It was one of the most important pursuits of his life.
“Summer was just something he waited for to be over,” she noted. “But when winter came, it was all about the hockey teams in town, especially the Muskies.”
Included as part of the tributes by both teams will be the official retirement of Smith’s Muskie team jacket, which sports a crest proclaiming Smith the teams’ “No. 1 Fan.”
The jacket will be mounted in a display case in the Memorial Sports Centre.
“I couldn’t bring myself to give the jacket away when I was going through Cam’s clothes after he died,” his mother recalled. “It held a special place in his life.
“I offered it to the Muskies and this is what they decided to do with it,” she said.
Muskie Blueline Club representative Jock Spence said there’s no question about Smith meriting such an outpouring of respect from the local hockey community.
“We’re doing this because Cam was always so supportive of the Muskies,” said Spence. “Barney Maher used to bring Cam to every game and we just felt he was such a great fan to the Muskies.”
Smith was well-known for his full-throated singing of “O Canada” before the games, his keeping of meticulous notes about each game he attended, and being sharp enough to figure out what penalties were going to be called before the officials on the ice even knew what was going to happen.
Now there will be a permanent reminder for all those who visit the arena about the impact Smith had.
“I’m pretty overwhelmed by the whole thing,” June Smith admitted. “It will be a very proud moment for me.”
