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Stu
Berry
- The end of an era
 Stu Berry
is the 2003 Larry Ashley Award Recipient
His official title with the Prince
George Spruce Kings is listed as trainer. But Stu Berry’s duties stretch
far beyond the medical side of things. Although he won’t admit to it, Stu
is somewhat of a father figure to almost all of the players on the club.
Many of the players have become really good friends, dating back to when Stu
joined the club back in 1982.
For the last 20 seasons, Stu has
offered his expertise in the training room and on the bench during the
games. He has taped thousands of ankles and hands, worked with the players
on different stretching methods, the care and maintenance of uniforms,
looked after the towels and water on the bench and paved the way for players
to see a doctor when needed. When a player is injured on the ice, Stu is
the first there, even if it an opposing player is injured, Stu is ready to
jump in. An injured player comes first; there are no differences in colour
of uniform when a player is down. And Stu has done all of this with a smile
on his face, while not collecting one dime in return. His position has
always been on a volunteer basis. And that is how he wanted it to be.
But injury was not just to the
players, he has also tape and cared for coaches, fans, volunteers, and minor
officials on and off the ice. Probably the most serious Stu was involved in
was, his own. We almost lost Stu two seasons ago, during the play-offs
against Vernon, the third game of the series, in front of our home fans and
his family. Stu had just finished taking the water bottles to the bench, on
his return, he slip on the ice and fell backwards slamming his head onto the
ice, fracturing his skull in two different spots. But, Stu would not let
anybody down, it took months of rehab, but start of the next season, he was
back, sporting his new helmet and with that smile.
The stories of Stu could go on for
pages, upon pages, but what is best reflective of Stu is, Stu’s scrapbook
that has been building from 1982. This impressive collection will be on
display at the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame. And his collection stems
from being a part of three different hockey leagues, the Peace Cariboo,
Rocky Mountain and now the BC Hockey League. Word of Stu accomplishments
had reached far, Orca Bay and Pacific Sportsnet, have done special feature
segments, on a truly unique man.
I am proud to be making this
announcement; on February 25th is “Stu Berry Night”. The Prince
George Spruce Kings, BC Hockey League, all our fans and the City of Prince
George, will be honouring Stu with some very special presentations.
Adrian Vander-Velden
President/Governor
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