A time of healing
By David Crompton
Friday, July 13, 2007
Penticton Herald file photo -- A framed photograph of the late Kevin Hearne is displayed at King‘s Park as youth soccer players file off the field after a tribute to Hearne last July. The first annual Kevin Hearne Memorial Game will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at King‘s Park.
Kevin Hearne is gone, but he won‘t be forgotten.
The Penticton Pinnacles, Sapperton Rovers FC and other members of the soccer fraternity plan to make sure of that.
Hearne, a player and head coach of the Pinnacles and long-time member of the Sapperton team, was killed in a car accident last July, one day before he would have turned 37.
Players from both teams, friends from within and outside the soccer community, and members of Hearne‘s family will gather at King‘s Park on Saturday for what is expected to evolve into an annual celebration of Hearne‘s life.
“It will probably become a bigger event as we go on, but for this year it will be a tighter group,” said Sapperton player-coach Brian Wevers, a close friend of Hearne‘s since they took over the Vancouver Metro Soccer League team in 1994 and led it to its first B.C. club championship in 2006.
“We want it to be a celebration, try to keep it low-key, but it will probably be emotional.”
Wevers said a group of about 40 players and family members will be coming to Penticton for the event. Sapperton will play the Pinnacles in a friendly game at 1 p.m., with a barbecue and social to follow at King‘s Park.
Penticton‘s Manuel Borba, who is now coaching the Pinnacles as they play in the Pacific Coast Soccer League under-21 men‘s division, said everyone is looking forward to getting together.
“Things happened so quickly last year, we were all still in shock and we still had league games we had to play,” said Borba.
“This is the first time the Sapperton guys and the families have been able to come to Penticton. It will be a time of healing, of making new friends, and remembering a very special person.”
Wevers said for him, the most important thing is reinforcing to Hearne‘s family that they still care deeply, and will always be around and there for them. Hearne was survived by his wife Poppy, and three young children, Brayden, Shayla and Jaylen.
“Kevin‘s family understandably took it very, very hard,” said Wevers.
“I‘m glad they got through the year. The kids are doing reasonably well … they‘re all heavily involved in sports, and along with school, that really helped them.”
Wevers said the two families were extremely close.
“I remember Kevin‘s kids teaching my daughter how to walk when we were in Penticton,” said Wevers. “They were together, and all of a sudden she just got up and started walking.”
In honour of Hearne, Wevers and a group of players formed a team in this year‘s Vancouver summer league. Made of around 25 players who played with Hearne over the years, the team is called the Salmo Lucky 13s – reflecting Hearne‘s hometown of Salmo and the familiar No. 13 jersey he wore.
Each jersey has the No. 13 on the back, while the front has each player‘s regular number and a photo of Hearne near their hearts.
The team has won all of its games by lopsided margins, with the exception of a single 4-3 loss.
“We were playing the other night, and even after playing all these games, a guy on the other team yells out ‘who‘s got No. 13‘. You couldn‘t help but laugh,” said Wevers.
While the Lucky 13s are enjoying playing together and enjoying winning, Wevers said there are still plenty of sombre moments.
“Kevin was a huge part of the soccer community,” said Wevers.
“He was a special guy who touched a lot of people and we just wanted to be able to honour him. After the games, we talk about it. It‘s been tough for a lot of people.”
Borba said many of the older and younger players that Hearne coached and played with in Penticton will suit up for the Pinnacles on Saturday. Veterans Zeke Pescada, Mike Beliveau, John Cote and Borba himself will be there along with the youngsters such as Paul Raposo and Alden Bunajqu. Brad Leitch, a former Pinnacle who played with and against Hearne at the coast, also plans to take part.
Borba said everyone is welcome to come out and watch the game and stay around for the barbecue afterwards.
By David Crompton
Friday, July 13, 2007
Penticton Herald file photo -- A framed photograph of the late Kevin Hearne is displayed at King‘s Park as youth soccer players file off the field after a tribute to Hearne last July. The first annual Kevin Hearne Memorial Game will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at King‘s Park.
Kevin Hearne is gone, but he won‘t be forgotten.
The Penticton Pinnacles, Sapperton Rovers FC and other members of the soccer fraternity plan to make sure of that.
Hearne, a player and head coach of the Pinnacles and long-time member of the Sapperton team, was killed in a car accident last July, one day before he would have turned 37.
Players from both teams, friends from within and outside the soccer community, and members of Hearne‘s family will gather at King‘s Park on Saturday for what is expected to evolve into an annual celebration of Hearne‘s life.
“It will probably become a bigger event as we go on, but for this year it will be a tighter group,” said Sapperton player-coach Brian Wevers, a close friend of Hearne‘s since they took over the Vancouver Metro Soccer League team in 1994 and led it to its first B.C. club championship in 2006.
“We want it to be a celebration, try to keep it low-key, but it will probably be emotional.”
Wevers said a group of about 40 players and family members will be coming to Penticton for the event. Sapperton will play the Pinnacles in a friendly game at 1 p.m., with a barbecue and social to follow at King‘s Park.
Penticton‘s Manuel Borba, who is now coaching the Pinnacles as they play in the Pacific Coast Soccer League under-21 men‘s division, said everyone is looking forward to getting together.
“Things happened so quickly last year, we were all still in shock and we still had league games we had to play,” said Borba.
“This is the first time the Sapperton guys and the families have been able to come to Penticton. It will be a time of healing, of making new friends, and remembering a very special person.”
Wevers said for him, the most important thing is reinforcing to Hearne‘s family that they still care deeply, and will always be around and there for them. Hearne was survived by his wife Poppy, and three young children, Brayden, Shayla and Jaylen.
“Kevin‘s family understandably took it very, very hard,” said Wevers.
“I‘m glad they got through the year. The kids are doing reasonably well … they‘re all heavily involved in sports, and along with school, that really helped them.”
Wevers said the two families were extremely close.
“I remember Kevin‘s kids teaching my daughter how to walk when we were in Penticton,” said Wevers. “They were together, and all of a sudden she just got up and started walking.”
In honour of Hearne, Wevers and a group of players formed a team in this year‘s Vancouver summer league. Made of around 25 players who played with Hearne over the years, the team is called the Salmo Lucky 13s – reflecting Hearne‘s hometown of Salmo and the familiar No. 13 jersey he wore.
Each jersey has the No. 13 on the back, while the front has each player‘s regular number and a photo of Hearne near their hearts.
The team has won all of its games by lopsided margins, with the exception of a single 4-3 loss.
“We were playing the other night, and even after playing all these games, a guy on the other team yells out ‘who‘s got No. 13‘. You couldn‘t help but laugh,” said Wevers.
While the Lucky 13s are enjoying playing together and enjoying winning, Wevers said there are still plenty of sombre moments.
“Kevin was a huge part of the soccer community,” said Wevers.
“He was a special guy who touched a lot of people and we just wanted to be able to honour him. After the games, we talk about it. It‘s been tough for a lot of people.”
Borba said many of the older and younger players that Hearne coached and played with in Penticton will suit up for the Pinnacles on Saturday. Veterans Zeke Pescada, Mike Beliveau, John Cote and Borba himself will be there along with the youngsters such as Paul Raposo and Alden Bunajqu. Brad Leitch, a former Pinnacle who played with and against Hearne at the coast, also plans to take part.
Borba said everyone is welcome to come out and watch the game and stay around for the barbecue afterwards.
