The Junior Bombers 1 and Holy Name face off during the five-day Kevin Major Memorial Tournament at Amelia Park Ice Arena. (File photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – “He was a fierce competitor on the field and on the ice, but he was a great kid and a great friend off it.”
Pat Major has fond memories of his son, Kevin, a former standout athlete at Westfield’s St. Mary’s High School, memories of his boy playing his heart out at the rink, on the diamond baseball diamond, and on the rugby pitch.
Sadly, it was that heart which loved these games so which failed him, as the month of July marked the third anniversary of Kevin Major’s passing from sudden cardiac arrest in 2011.
Rather than mourn the loss of his son, Pat Major chose to use the tragedy to make an impact on the community and to raise awareness for heart conditions in youth athletes.
For the third August in a row, the Kevin Major Memorial Hockey Tournament hosted by Amelia park Arena drew the cream of the western Massachusetts hockey crop across four divisions of competition, from squirts to ex-professionals, August 8-11.
“We started with twelve teams in 2011,” said Pat Major, who organized the first tournament a month after his son’s passing, along with raffles and a silent auction. “This year, we welcomed 26 teams. I told my wife, this thing has taken on a life of it’s own!”
Athletes and spectators alike have packed Amelia to celebrate Kevin Major’s life, as well as to support two foundations bearing his name and legacy: the Kevin J. Major Youth Sports Foundation and Kev’s Foundation, an organization which seeks to educate on sudden cardiac arrest and other heart ailments which can affect youths.
“People just don’t want to leave,” Major said about this year’s tournament. “The feeling was incredible.”
“We’re proud to host this event. 26 teams competed with some of the best players in western Mass.,” said Carole Appleton, Executive Director of Amelia park Arena.
Kevin’s father estimates that the Kevin J. Major Youth Sports Foundation has raised close to $50,000 during it’s three-year run to provide financial aid, to motivate, educate and encourage children 19 years and younger to take part in structured youth sports programs.
