The Wayne and Elaine Castor Fan Appreciation Award

The Wayne Castor Fan Appreciation Award honors a man who exemplified team spirit and good sportsmanship in the role of a parent. This award was created twelve years ago to honor a father who loved to watch his children, and his nieces and nephews play sports at Salmon River and throughout the North Country. This year, Castor's sons, Peter and Kevin, sadly added the name of their mother, Elaine, to this years award. Elaine passed after a brief illness last spring.

In any season you could find Wayne and Elaine cheering on the hockey, lacrosse or soccer team. Or they could be found standing in bleachers cheering on the track and field team. His dedication was infectious and his humor is remembered by anyone who met him. He believed that a strong, clean body also helped to improve the mind. He would share his love for clean living and strong academics whenever he had the opportunity to address our youth. Elaine was loyal, dependable and devoted to her children and her many nieces and nephews.

The Wayne and Elaine Castor Fan Appreciation award is sponsored by the "Kerry Kane Memorial Fund" from Kahnawake. Kerry Kane, Ken Kane's brother passed away in a high steel accident years ago. Ken Kane, along with former SRCS hockey coach Bill Plante present the Wayne and Elaine Castor Fan Appreciation Award each year to honor Kerry Kane and Wayne and Elaine Castor. Ken Kane knew Wayne Castor well having his son Logan reside with the Castor Family during his son's high school years.

Kane stated, "I was fortunate enough to have a son who lived in the Castor family home for a few years; besides developing great friendships with those around him, he also learned some very valuable life skills such as respect for people, honesty, and responsibility in whatever you took on. Wayne and Elaine left us way too soon and now they sit with the Creator."

Bill Plante, the former hockey coach of SRCS, led three generations of Barnes Family hockey players starting with Brian Barnes, then Peter Barnes (Wayne Castor's son) and Jim Barnes and the third generation of Kevin Castor (Wayne Castor's son) and Sawentanon and Teio Skidders Castor's nephews.

Wayne was by all standards an amazing fan, a great uncle and a good friend to many. He was candid, funny, and his best stories were taking stock of himself and turning it into an incredibly funny story. He often stood in for those who didn't have their father there or when the Dad had to be busy elsewhere. In fact, Wayne could be depended on for whatever was asked of him and often went beyond what was asked to help those who needed it.

In that spirit, the Wayne and Elaine Castor Fan Appreciation Award was presented to the family of Hubert Rourke. Binky Rourke and her sons, Mark, Mike and Brett accepted the Fan Award on behalf of her recently deceased husband, Hubert Rourke who passed away on January 3, 2017.