The saga of a local hockey Dad and his love for the game and the overwhelming support took another unexpected turn this week. Wayne Barrett of Back Bay, who passed away last summer after a valiant and brave fight with cancer, had his story told again by a different source. This time it was arguably the world’s biggest sports magazine Sports Illustrated telling the tale in their Olympic Preview edition that showcased fellow Maritimer Sidney Crosby on the cover.
As the clock ticked down on Wayne in the summer of 2009, he became aware that perhaps this might be a battle he wouldn’t win, he made plans to take his family to Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia when Crosby was bringing the Stanley Cup there. Unfortunately, this story didn’t have a happy ending and Wayne succumbed to the horrible foe after an extensive and courageous battle.
Wayne’s Mom June tells the tale of how Wayne’s wife Allene and her daughter Brooke and son Brandon made the trek to see the Cup live and in person. During the extensive wait, a man came along and struck up a conversation with them. Lo and behold, he was a writer for Sports Illustrated named S. L. Price from Washington, D.C. “The man was taken by the story and was genuinely interested in it,” added June.
He was there to do a story on Sidney Crosby and his massive appeal and Price’s path ended up crossing with the Barretts and now a brief account of their journey is in the 2010 Winter Olympics Preview edition. It is not hard to pick out; it has Canada’s biggest hockey hero Crosby on it, sporting his Team Canada uniform.
Although Wayne never got to fulfill his dream of seeing Hockey’s Holy Grail in person, his spirit was felt as it passed by them. Wayne’s legacy has been documented and re-told many times and this latest chapter once again shows the power of sport and the way it brings people together. Politics and religion divides us, but we can all find a common ground when it comes to sports. Whether it’s an entire nation watching their team and cheering them every step of the way or a little community in New Brunswick, sport is the glue that bonds us altogether.
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