Rockets and Castors united in respect
The North Dundas Rockets and the Clarence Castors united at centre ice prior to the National Anthem to honour the players that were taken in a horrible accident near Renfrew. The four occupants of the car were all members of the Renfrew Timberwolves of the CCHL2. Two of the players have died and two remain in critical condition. Courtesy Forrester photo
Jeff Moore
Record Staff
RENFREW — The hockey community of Eastern Ontario mourns the loss of two Renfrew Timberwolves of the CCHL2 who lost their lives after a tragic car accident on Friday morning last week. It has been hard for players, coaches, families, friends and the community of Renfrew where all four boys were from and also for the hockey community itself.
The Winchester Hawks and the Arnprior Packers held a moment of silence while forming a circle at centre ice on Friday night after the tragedy that unfolded near Renfrew earlier in the day. The CCHL2’s Renfrew Timberwolves lost two teammates following a horrible car accident. Teams from minor hockey, and all three levels of junior hockey paid respects at centre ice over the weekend. Courtesy Menard photo
Most teams in all the leagues held a moment of silence prior to each of their games forming a united ring at centre ice. Social media lit up early Friday morning following the accident and condolences still continue.
One of the players was pronounced dead on the scene, one was taken to hospital by air ambulance and two others were transported via ambulance. The Timberwolves’ organization and families thanked all of the hockey community for their overwhelming response.
The accident happened on Calabogie Rd. just south of Burnstown when the vehicle they were in careened off a rock cut along the side of the road. The police released the name of the Timberwolves’ player as Brandon Hanniman as the one who was pronounced deceased on site. Later in hospital, his teammate Alex Paquette passed on Saturday afternoon with his family by his side.
The two other occupants of the car, Ben Scheunemen and Jake McGrimmon, are still in hospital with critical injuries; both also play for the Timberwolves. On the CCHL2 website, Timberwolves’ Coach Kevin Gould said in an interview with Inside Ottawa Valley, “It’s a very tight-knit group of kids. They will be affected by this and we will have to sit down together on how to move forward.”
The Timberwolves cancelled their two games this weekend against the Perth Blue Wings and the Winchester Hawks.
Hanniman was a rookie with the Timberwolves this season and scored his first goal on Oct. 4 against the Brockville Tikis, and Paquette, in his third season with the Timberwolves, scored 11 points in 17 games and was third in team scoring.
