'He meant so much to everyone': Hockey West Island to retire jersey of teen killed in train collision
Four months after Dorval teen Tristan Morrissette-Perkins was struck and killed by a train, the local sports community is honouring his memory.
In a first for West Island Hockey, Morrissette-Perkins' team jersey is being formally retired at a ceremony Sunday afternoon.
His mother, Julie Morrissette, said she was touched when West Island Hockey approached her about retiring her son's jersey.
"I felt honoured, I felt overwhelmed," she said. "The community has been such an amazing support through all of this."
Morrissette-Perkins played Midget AA hockey for the West Island Royals and played for his high school team as well.
West Island Hockey president Andy Brookman hoped the move would help the family gets a sense of how special Tristan was to the association.
"He meant so much to everyone," Brookman said.
Brookman described the 16-year-old as a "terrific teammate," who was admired on and off the ice.
Friends of Morrissette-Perkins have been busy creating tributes to his memory, including building two benches out of hockey sticks and printing T-shirts and stickers bearing his No. 6.
"I think a lot of his friends have been touched by this," said Morrissette. "He affected a lot of people."
The jersey will be retired at the Dorval Arena at 5:30 p.m.
The event is open to the public and people are being asked to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to a local food bank.
The event will be followed by a midget AA game between the Royals and Dollard Vipers.
