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Courtney Cowan
S.P.F.H.A.
Intermediate ‘B’ Team
Women in Hockey: One, Big Family
On January 29, 2005, my world changed.
My hockey coach, his young son and my friend and teammate’s
mother were killed instantly, stripped of their lives, in a horrific
bus accident that took place just outside of Geneseo, New York.
What started out as a fun weekend planned for exciting hockey and
skiing, turned into the most terrifying tragedy any of my teammates
and I had ever experienced. What immediately followed the crash
was a two-hour long nightmare, trapped in the bus with two of my
teammates. My mother was holding our hands and talking to us, trying
to keep us calm, while firefighters worked desperately to free us.
Paramedics started IV’s and watched our vitals. My blood pressure
dropping and my hopes fading, I was finally freed and flown by helicopter
to Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital. Meanwhile, outside
the bus, my teammates supported and looked after each other, directing
rescue personnel to care for others before themselves.
My mother and older brother were also hospitalized, and my dad received
a frightening phone call from my younger sister, who my brother
was able to contact at home. As details of the accident became available,
my dad and my uncle began the long drive to Rochester. When they
arrived, my dad was whisked to my bedside in the ICU. He looked
back at the nurse, sure that they had brought him to the wrong room
– I was almost unrecognizable.
When I came out of the sedation the next morning, I was shocked
and saddened when I was informed of the losses my team had suffered.
My injuries were many (open compound fractures of both legs, a broken
nose, skull fracture, concussion and numerous lacerations and contusions…what
a list!), but they were meaningless compared to what my friends’
families were dealing with. The lives of all on the bus, and the
unfortunate driver of the truck we crashed into, were to forever
be changed and influenced by this accident.
As I spent many long hours recovering
in the hospital, not only was I visited by my own family and teammates,
but the Rochester girls’ hockey team stepped up. Though we
had met only hours before the accident during our friendly exhibition
game, these strangers became some of our greatest supporters. The
team staff rushed to take care of my teammates who were released
from hospital that evening, staying all night with them until their
families could arrive from Windsor. Players, parents and staff spent
time with Traci Butler, Janna Desmarais and myself as well, day
after day until we were released from the Rochester hospital. We
were not even acquainted with these young women and their families,
but they treated us as part of their team, supplying care packages,
shoes and clothing to replace the ones we had lost, magazines and
other things to occupy our time until we were released. They cooked
and delivered a turkey dinner to our families keeping vigil by our
bedsides. A contingent traveled to Windsor to attend the Edwards
and Roach funerals. They had even taken the time and heart to help
cover our team’s expenses due to the accident, raising funds
at local hockey games.
From the time that word of the accident
went out, teams from all over the map were beginning to play games
in the name of those we lost. Fundraisers were organized, and condolences
and words of support poured in. We even had the privilege of being
introduced to NHL celebrities and supporters of women’s hockey,
including Wayne “The Great One” Gretzky and Don Cherry,
who have also shown a great deal of emotional support. As well,
we were happy to receive a letter to our team from Haley Wickenheiser.
Janna and I were thrilled to receive personalized e-mails from another
member of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team, Jennifer Botterill.
A mere four weeks after the accident,
my team showed their heart and determination by fulfilling our dream
of participating at the Provincial championships. Officials of the
Ontario Women’s Hockey Association allowed us to pick up four
players to fill our ranks, and the team played for themselves and
for their fans, including three who were surely watching from the
best seats up above. Though Traci was still hospitalized, Janna
and I cheered lustily from our wheelchairs, and we were buoyed by
the words of support from every team we played, from teams in other
divisions, from referees and officials. Our team motto from the
beginning of the season had been ‘git er done’, and
we that’s exactly what we did. Though we won no games at the
tournament, we won in what counted, and were awarded a plaque proclaiming
us as ‘special champions’, because we ‘got er
done’!
This tragedy has led me to discover
how close the participants of women’s hockey really are. Age
and skill have little importance, as we experience the joy of participating
in Canada’s great national pastime. I truly believe that we
all are one, big, caring family. When one member is affected, the
rest are all affected as well. I have repeatedly been amazed and
touched by all the support our team has received. The girls from
that Rochester team are still great supporters of last year’s
Intermediate ‘BB’ team, and our teams remain quite close
to this day. If it were not for this kind of support from women
hockey players and other participants everywhere, the healing process
would certainly have been more difficult.
The healing continues, and our team
is still there for each other, offering love and caring. I am unsure
whether I will ever be able to play competitive hockey again, but
I still love the game, and am facing a new challenge as I have turned
to coaching my former teammates and some new recruits from behind
the bench.
Women and hockey – what a great
combination, and what a great example of how sports should be played
– with pride and fire on the ice, and with encouragement and
good sportsmanship both on and off the field of play.
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Ontario
Womens Hockey Association 
