14th Annual Wayne Castor Fan Appreciation Award Presented

Thirteen years ago, the Salmon River Boys Hockey community lost a great fan and supporter. Wayne Castor had passed onto the spirit world but he left behind a legacy of support and loyalty of what it means to be a true fan of high school hockey. With that legacy, the friends and family of Wayne Castor memorialize his spirit with the Wayne Castor Salmon River Hockey Fan award each year. This year's award was presented to Tim Gray for his dedication and enthusiasm to Salmon River Hockey. For years Gray drove the sports bus transporting rambunctious high school hockey players to and from hockey arenas all around the North Country. And if that wasn't enough, he still sings the National Anthem live for home hockey games.

Wayne Castor was the father of Peter Barnes and Kevin Castor and uncle to Sawentanon and Teio Skidders, Jim Barnes, chosen uncle to Logan Kane, Curry Rice and countless other players of the Salmon River Central boys hockey and lacrosse teams.

He gave of himself selflessly – he was there when you needed a ride, your skates sharpened, and a pat on the back for a game well played. But most imorptantly he was there to give words of encouragement when things didn't go so well on the ice. He was there for his sons, his nephews and his nieces and all members of the team. Most of all he was there for the love of the game and what "the game" gave back to each player and to our community.

The Wayne Castor Fan Award is sponsored by the Kerry Kane Foundation of Kahnawake. Ken Kane, founder of the Kerry Kane Foundation and father of John and Logan Kane, both former players of SRCS, delivers the large trophy each year to the deserving fan along with a duplicate trophy that sits on the SRCS Award shelves. Kerry Kane was the brother of Ken who lost his life while working on high steel. Kane formed the Kerry Kane Foundation, which benefits a number groups and teams in Kahnawake and Akwesasne, including the Wayne Castor Fan Award. The Wayne Castor Award memorializes both men who left us way too early in life.