The atmosphere surrounding the adult floor hockey league games at the Southwick Recreation Center on Friday and Saturday nights is usually one of fun, excitement and good competition. The games this past Saturday night contained all that, but with a very solemn undercurrent that was felt by everyone in the room.
Southwick resident Tyler Granfield, who died recently in a freak work accident, had played floor hockey at the Southwick Rec. Center for a good portion of his life. So it was fitting that members from each of the nine adult-league teams paid a few moments of respect to a fallen teammate and competitor.
Tyler’s team, the Coyotes, had a 9 p.m. game scheduled against the Canadiens on Saturday that would be their first game without him. This game started a little later than expected, thanks to head referee Mark Rankin’s pregame ceremonies to honor Granfield.
Rankin, who knew Tyler for most of his life, was slowed by emotions as he read a prepared statement during the pregame ceremony honoring the fallen player. In a show of respect, player representatives from each of the adult teams lined up on the blue lines as adult league coordinator, Mark Frasco, presented to Granfield’s girlfriend, Tara Gorenc, an envelope with funds collected from each team that will go to the Tyler J. Granfield memorial Scholarship Fund.
Before the true competition between the Coyotes and Canadiens began there was one final remembrance. In a “missing man formation”, a chair draped with Granfield’s #9 jersey and two bundles of flowers was placed on the playing surface where Granfield would have been on the opening face off, adjacent to his girlfriend, Gorenc. The Coyotes won the faceoff and played the ball back to Gorenc at which point play was stopped and the ceremonies were concluded.
In the end, the Coyotes and Canadiens got back to business by playing a fun, exciting and competitive game.
