The sign marking Dale Hawerchuk Way in the shadow of Sadlon Arena in Barrie's south end has been installed not far from where the late coach helped steer the careers of many up-and-coming junior hockey players.
Mayor Jeff Lehman unveiled the new sign on Thursday along with Hawerchuk's widow Crystal, his father Eddie Hawerchuk, and Barrie Colts owner and president Howie Campbell.
Hawerchuk died on Aug. 18, 2020 following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 57 years old. The Hockey Hall of Famer coached the Colts from 2010 until 2019 when he took a leave of absence from the team for health reasons.
Coun. Gary Harvey brought the idea of naming a street in Hawerchuk's honour to city council earlier this year.
“Dale was a class act and he represented the city and the Barrie Colts tremendously," Harvey said. "As a mentor to his players, he did everything to ensure that they succeeded personally and professionally. I am so happy that we are honouring Dale and his family by naming the street after him."
Lehman said Hawerchuk "defined the spirit of hockey."
"He gave so much to the game and so much to our community," the mayor said. "Dale brought so much joy to so many hockey fans and so much to the city of Barrie. I am honoured to be able to announce that Dale Hawerchuk Way will be forever a part of the city of Barrie.”
Crystal Hawerchuk called the street-naming a "very special" gesture.
“I know Dale meant so much to the city of Barrie and the Barrie Colts and this city meant so much to Dale. He loved being here and loved being the head coach of the Colts," she said. "It’s a real honour to me and to our family to have the street that leads into the arena he loved named after him. Our family loved being part of this community so this is very special."
Campbell said he will always reflect on fond memories of Hawerchuk when he sees the sign, which is located on an entrance road off Bayview Drive outside the arena.
“Everyone knows about Dale Hawerchuk, the Hall of Fame hockey player, but I was so fortunate to get to know Dale Hawerchuk the man. Dale was a great head coach and led our team for 10 years," Campbell said. "During that time, Dale also became a very good friend. Having this street named after him is a great honour and I love that every day when I come to work, I’ll see his name on my way in."
During his NHL career, which spanned from 1981 to 1997, Hawerchuk was one of the greatest players of his area, scoring 518 goals and adding 891 assists for 1,409 points during the regular season.
Hawerchuk starred for nine seasons with Winnipeg Jets before playing with Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers.
He also played for Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup, winning a key face-off in his own end that led to Mario Lemieux’s game-winning goal, on a pass from Wayne Gretzky, giving Canada a 6-5 victory in the deciding third game of the tournament final against the Soviet Union.
The video of the unveiling can be seen on the Barrie Colts YouTube channel by clicking here.
