Hi this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “, brought to you by Auto Logic…..the Logical Choice !
I know of no other person as consumed by hockey as former Owen Sound Attack coach Mark Reeds
Reeds, who passed away from cancer this week, spent 4 years as the coach of the Owen Sound Attack, climaxing with the epic Ontario Hockey League Championship victory in Game 7 of the 2011 Robertson Cup.
One day, somewhere in time, in the lobby of the Ramada Inn at Saginaw, Michigan, out of the blue, Mark asked me what I liked to do in the summers.
Somewhat surprised by the query, I related I enjoyed golf, the local trails & Sauble Beach.
In the very next sentence, Mark blurted out that the Attack penalty kill needed to be upgraded. He was that passionate, that wrapped up in hockey.
It was funny. It was quirky. It was Mark Reeds.
Mark had other passions, his family most certainly, but every conversation I ever had with Mark Reeds was hockey oriented, or very quickly became a hockey discussion. Purely & simply, he loved the game
While not flashy or boisterous, the connection of friends for Mark Reeds, especially from his playing days, were many & extremely tight.
A former St Louis teammate had encountered hard times, the worst possible, and reached out to Mark via a lengthy & poignant hand written letter, a letter that Mark once showed me in confidence.
While the contents of the letter were difficult to read, very graphic, it also struck me that Mark Reeds was a lifeline, a touchstone, an inspiration and the best possible friend for somebody needing trust……………..
I heard prior to overtime in Game 7 of the 2011 OHL Final at Mississauga, Mark addressed the Attack players with a very simple question; ‘ Why not YOU ? ‘, indicating victory, could be, or should be theirs.
Why Not You ?
Today as we remember Mark Reeds, player-coach, husband-father, hockey lover, at age 55, we can’t help but ask, ‘ why you ? ‘
I’m Fred Wallace