If you are really lucky, sometime during your lifetime, you will have the honour of meeting someone extra special who fills your heart with joy.
Jack Lyons was one of those people, a continuous source of happiness for family and friends alike.
Jack was just 17 years old when he passed in April, of this year.
He was an extremely active young man who enjoyed a variety of sports, both as a participant and onlooker.
Playing for the North Bay North Stars Special Needs Hockey Team was one of his greatest passions.
Past president Sharon Fung started the North Stars program 14 years ago.
Fung recounts how Jack was always such a big part of the North Stars which was created to provide a hockey program for young people and adults with developmental disabilities, in order to play hockey in an inclusive environment and develop at their own pace.
The past president referred to Lyons as a role model for the program both on and off the ice.
“He could have been the poster child for the North Stars because he sort of embodied everything the North Stars was set up to provide,” said Fung.
His father Mark said Jack was just eight or nine years old when he started with the North Stars.
“Jack loved the game. He just wanted to be out on the ice. He was always smiling, giving fist pumps to everybody. He loved everybody and you could just see the joy in him when he was on the ice,” said Fung.
That joy carried over into the stands.
“The whole arena would erupt in cheers when Jack scored a goal. It didn’t matter which team you were on or which side you were on because his joy was just so infectious. And that is what the North Stars is meant to be. It is meant to be hockey for the enjoyment of hockey,” Fung added.
To honour their friend and teammate, the North Stars family retired Jack’s number 8 jersey at an emotionally charged ceremony at the Pete Palangio arena Sunday afternoon, just prior to his North Stars B team game against the North Bay Firefighters.
Number eight will always belong to Jack.
His father, mother, sister and grandmother were presented with a keepsake jersey during the on-ice ceremony.
“And we put some stickers on the helmets of our players and they also have crests on their practice jerseys. So Jack is going to be with us from now on,” Fung stated.
Jack’s father became an integral part of the program, first helping Jack one-on-one, and later as Jack grew more confident and skilled, he stayed on to assist other players.
The senior Lyons said the honour bestowed on Jack Sunday was a little overwhelming, but he appreciates how the community always comes out to support Jack.
“North Bay has been very good about everything with Jack, and the North Stars opening their arms to him,” said Lyons.
“Dealing with this was almost like coming to his funeral again. It was really hard for me.”
Over the years the Lyons family developed a special friendship with the North Bay Battalion Hockey Club.
“His Battalion is always behind him. It’s amazing,” Lyons added.
Paul Christopoulos, who plays defence for the Battalion was one of a number of Battalion players who attended the ceremony.
“We’re here to support Jack. He and his family always supported the Battalion and all of us are happy to be here for him and his family,” shared Christopoulos who also noted the significance of honouring Jack by retiring his number.
“We’re sad to see him go obviously, but he will always be with us,” said Christopoulos.
Jack’s jersey will have a special place on game day.
“Every game they’ll have it on the bench with his memory out there.”
Mark Lyons promised more special announcements concerning Jack in the near future.
