Terriers remembering veterans

Sunday's Sask-atchewan Junior Hockey League game at the Farrell Agencies Arena will be about more than who wins between the host Terriers and visiting Kindersley Klippers.

The game will be about marking the dedication and sacrifice of those who have served through the years in the Canadian Armed Forces.

It is an event brought to life by the efforts of Mark Schindel, who noted the idea took several years to formulate.

"It probably started a little bit unknowingly for me in 2006," he said.

Schindel was in Canton, Ohio at the National Football Hall of Fame for the induction of his hero Warren Moon.

As part of the festivities there was a parade with past and present inductees riding past in convertibles.

But there was also recognition of the Armed Forces in the U.S.

"The roar and the cheer for U.S. men and women serving in the armed forces exceeded that for the sports heroes," said Schindel.

It was a poignant moment that stuck with him.

"It really put things in perspective for me," he said.

Flash forward a few years and Schindel found himself at Fenway Park where a single red seat in the outfield among a sea of green ones caught his attention. The seat marks the landing spot of a monster home run off the bat of Ted Williams.

"You can't help but fixate on that one red seat," he said.

As it happened the Fenway trip included taking in a game on Independence Day, a day where U.S. soldiers who were prisoners of war, or were still listed as missing in action were recognized.

"At that moment at Fenway Park a light went off," said Schindel, who added he questioned "why can't I get something like this going in Yorkton."

So once back in Yorkton Schindel called Good Spirit School Division Director of Education Dwayne Reeve to make sure the GSSD was on side with a plan he was formulating to honour men and women involved with the Canadian Armed Forces.

"He said 'go for it. See what you an make of it'," said Schindel.

Next was a call to Dave Baron president of the Yorkton Terriers Junior Hockey Club.

"He loved the idea and said run with it," said Schindel.

The idea Schindel would run with was a twofold one.

The first was to have the Terriers play a game wearing camo-jerseys, and for that he needed sponsors. Schindel started with the schools within the division, with Dr. Brass, MC Knoll, Columbia and Yorkdale Central Schools in the city all jumping on board.

From there he cast the net a bit farther afield with Calder, Saltcoats and Springside joining the fold.

Schindel said involvement for the schools had an educational motive too, noting the English Language Arts curriculum for Grade 6 students includes a look at peace and conflict. While there are excellent books as resources, involvement in a program to honour armed force participants brings it closer to home for students.

"It brings the unit alive and makes it more real for these kids," he said.

And as a way of saying thanks to the schools, the Terriers have given Grade 6 students at all the schools tickets to the game Nov. 10.

With seven schools involved, Schindel then turned to the public to complete sponsorships for 23 camo jerseys. Only one business approached said no.

"The response of business sponsors was great," he said.

After Sunday's game the players will actually deliver the jerseys to their sponsors as a way to say thanks.

With the jerseys in-hand, Schindel's mind returned to the red seat in Fenway. He pitched the idea of marking a seat in the Farrell Agencies Arena black for the game.

"In our sea of red here, why not have a black seat," he said, one left empty for the men and women who serve our country.

Darcy McLeod, Director of the Community Development, Parks & Recreation Department was quickly on-board.

"He was super supportive of the project," said Schindel, who added the idea quickly grew from a one game marking of a seat, to one which will be left empty at all future events in the arena.

With the leg work complete, Schindel said he just hopes there is a big crowd out for Sunday's game, even on a day when the Saskatchewan Roughriders are in playoff action.

Schindel said with the Royal Canadian Legion Honour Guard on-hand for the ceremonial puck drop, reservists with 64 Field Battery, and local sea, air and army cadets in attendance, he wants Yorkton people to say thanks to those serving in the past, present and future.

"One thing I'd still like to see is a standing ovation for the dignitaries that are there It's something due to them and deserved," he said.