Cody Smuk 1989-2015
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| Cody Smuk at the Rutherford Rink on Jan. 30, 2015. |
If life success is determined by how many friends you have,
Cody Smuk died a very rich young man.
The hard-working, team-first former forward with the
University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey team succumbed to a battle with
cancer that lasted over a year early Thursday morning. He just turned 26 back
on May 11.
Smuk was living proof about how much the glue guy matters.
As news spread about his passing, those that knew him
quickly flocked to social media to post tributes. Even those in Saskatoon that
didn’t know Smuk personally or didn’t follow the Huskies knew Smuk’s story and
were sad to hear about his death.
He grew up playing minor hockey in Saskatoon and moved on to
spend four seasons in the WHL with the Chilliwack Bruins, Lethbridge Hurricanes
and Moose Jaw Warriors. No matter where the stop was, Smuk was always one of
the most popular players on the team he suited up for.
That didn’t change when he returned to Saskatoon to play
four seasons with the Huskies. Smuk was never the offensive star. He netted six
goals and 14 assists in 89 career regular season games with the Huskies.
Due to the fact he was good natured, easy going and genuine,
he easily became one of the most popular players on his own team and amongst
all teams that are part of the Huskies program.
The man who always had a smile on his face ended up dating
Stephanie Vause from the Huskies track team and the two were engaged to be
married at the time of Smuk’s death.
Because of his strong qualities of character, Saskatoon as a
city and the hockey community at large repeatedly rallied for Smuk, when his diagnosis
of testicular and lung cancer came out about two months after he helped the
Huskies win a silver medal at the University Cup national championship
tournament in March of 2014.
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| Cody Smuk drops the puck for a ceremonial faceoff on Jan. 30, 2015. |
All sorts of people started sporting “Get Smuk’d Cancer”
bracelets in another show of support.
On Jan. 30, Smuk received a standing ovation at a packed
Rutherford Rink, when he dropped the puck for a ceremonial faceoff before a men’s
hockey match between the Huskies and the rival U of Alberta Golden Bears. It
was one of the most heartwarming moments to ever take place inside the
85-year-old rink. Just under $3,500 was raised for the Saskatchewan branch of
the Canadian Cancer Society through a Marty’s Men fundraiser put on by the
Huskies.
When Smuk departed for Germany with Vause, his father Marty
and mother Darla, to seek alternative treatment on April 26, about 100 people
turned out on an early snowing Sunday morning to give the group a big send off
at the John G. Diefenbaker International Airport. If you were there, you
definitely could feel a great community vibe.
That vibe returned at a steak night fundraiser that was held
for Smuk at the Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre on June 4. This gathering
included a number of current NHL players from the area in Luke and Brayden
Schenn, Darcy Kuemper and Linden Vey. There were also a tonne of great
characters that have character on hand who became friends with Smuk during his
time in the WHL and the Huskies.
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| Cody Smuk and Stephanie Vause, centre, watch the Huskies in Nov. 2014. |
Vause and Marty Smuk were in attendance and were visibly
uplifted that night. Cody Smuk himself still hadn’t returned from Germany.
Who knew this would be the last public gathering held to
support Smuk, while he was still alive.
After always approaching his cancer battle with an
incredible upbeat attitude, Smuk’s condition deteriorated quickly this week
leading up this his passing away on Thursday. On Friday, a tribute sign went up
for Smuk in front of the Rutherford Rink reading “Rest easy Cody.” A memorial
service will be held on Tuesday, June 30 at 2 p.m. at Elim Church.
For one that always played with a huge heart on the ice,
Smuk helped show how big of a community heart Saskatoon can have off the ice.
Valkyries and Riot near biggest clash ever
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| Marci Kiselyk zips downfield for the Valkyries. |
On Sunday at 2 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium, the Saskatoon
Valkyries battle the host Regina Riot in what is to date the biggest clash
between the Western Women’s Canadian Football League powerhouse clubs. For the
fifth straight year, the two clubs are facing off in the Prairie Conference Final.
While the Valkyries took the previous four meetings on their way to winning
four straight league titles, this meeting might be the most up in the air head-to-head
match between these two clubs.
“We love to play Regina, and we love to play in good
football games,” said veteran Valkyries receiver Marci Kiselyk. “We love
playoff games. We’re really excited to get out there on Sunday and see what we
can do.”
The Valkyries and Riot each posted 3-1 regular season
records and split their two head-to-head games. The Riot held the standings
tiebreaker outscoring the Valkyries 68-37 in the two games.
In the last meeting between these teams, the Riot bombed the
Valkyries 49-9 at Saskatoon Minor Football Field.
“We really want to redeem ourselves,” said Kiselyk. “We really
want to play the way that we know that we can.
“It stung for a while, and you have to move past it. Football
is a game of ups and downs. If a play doesn’t go your way, you have to rebound
and be ready go on the next one.”
The WWCFL’s Western Conference Final will see the Calgary
Rage travel to Edmonton to take on the Storm at Jasper Place. Both teams were
2-2 in the regular season.
The league title game between the two conference winners is
set for July 4 at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.
If you have any
comments you want to pass along about this blog post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
