It was a competitive 6-5 finish December 5, as 413 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron’s Cormorant team came out on top of the “Top of the Pyramid” 7th Dean Ryan Memorial hockey tournament at the Greenwood Gardens Arena.
Herc Servicing met Team Cormorant in the final, following a day of play with representative teams also in the mix from Herc Flight and the SAR-Techs. More than play, the annual event raised $950 in Ryan’s memory, which will support research into and care of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The late Warrant Officer Dean Ryan, with squadron mate and continuing tournament organizer Robert “Willy” Wilen, started the in-squadron tournament years before Ryan’s death in February 2019. And, in December 2023, 413 member Captain Andrew Mercer also died after his own fight with ALS.
“That’s two in our squadron,” Wilen said, just as the day got underway. “We raised $650 last year, and I think we’ll be better than that this year. The local old-timers hockey players – one of them also kicked in some money, as they know people with ALS. The tournament is getting more and more known.”
Wilen’s hopes to “be better” this year came true with that oh-so-close to $1,000 total.
14 Wing Greenwood Commander Colonel Luc Vachon suited up with 413 Squadron Lieutenant-Colonel Greg Boone as part of Herc Flight; Vachon assisted with the opening puck drop and then quickly shifted into game mode. At the end of the day, Ryan’s widow, Tara, had official puck-drop duties for the final, and presented the tournament trophy to Herc Servicing.
