When he was growing up in Humboldt, there was a good chance you would have found Jacob Leicht at the outdoor rink near St. Dominic School playing hockey with his friends during the winter.
Soon, everyone in the city will get to experience the same passion that Jacob enjoyed with a brand-new facility.
On Friday, members of the Leicht family along with the Humboldt Broncos Memorial Golf Tournament Committee and the City of Humboldt unveiled the signage for the future home of the Jacob Leicht Memorial Outdoor Rink and Courts inside of Centennial Park near the Elgar Petersen Arena.
Jacob’s mother, Celeste Leray-Leicht says Jacob had a strong love for playing sports outside with his friends.
“Whether it was golfing, it was usually playing hockey, lots of road hockey.” She added, “In the wintertime they would go play at the ODR (outdoor rink) at St. Dominic School, they would even order pizza out there, whether it was –40 with a high wind chill, until as late as their parents would allow them and they just had a good old time.”
Leray-Leicht would like to see others have the same type of memories Jacob enjoyed.
“I hope to see kids and families utilizing this all year round.”
The Humboldt Broncos Memorial Golf Tournament Committee, led by Colorado Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar, longtime hockey play-by-play announcer in the NHL, WHL and SJHL (including the Humboldt Broncos) Brian Munz and Laurie Warford played a significant role helping make the outdoor facility a reality, and Leray-Leicht is grateful of the support they’ve provided to not only them, but everyone who was affected by the tragic accident in 2018.
“I’m just so inspired and in all appreciation of different groups and different people and families in need who have benefitted from this committee, Jared (Bednar), Brian (Munz), and Laurie (Warford), so to do this, came as a surprise, it’s just so touching to our family, and touching to me as Jacob’s mom, I can’t express our gratitude enough.”
Munz said when they started the Broncos Memorial Golf Tournament, they wanted to give back and help honour the legacy of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos.
“Both of us (Munz & Bednar) don’t live here anymore, but as soon as the name Humboldt comes up, but as soon as the name come up, you know what they’re thinking of and that was the accident on April 6 and that’s something that brings everybody in the world together.”
Munz added, “Now the outdoor facility that’s going to be by the arena, it’s a special thing and it’s always going to be a huge part of our lives.”
Bednar said he’s happy they can lend helping hand to projects for the outdoor facility.
“To be able to have another place like this, which is a fantastic facility when we’re standing on the site right now, looking at the area and talking about the plans, to be able to contribute just a little bit is what our tournament is all about.”
The outdoor facility will be up and running this winter, featuring an outdoor rink, which will have boards surrounding the ice surface along with full net protection.
In the summer, the facility will be transformed to have three courts that will be used for other sports including basketball, tennis and pickleball.
Beside the outdoor, the adjacent building will store the Zamboni for the outdoor rink and will be fully heated inside.
There will also be room for portable bleachers inside the court.
Later this winter, there will be an official grand opening event.
Bolt FM's Blaine Weyland had the chance to speak with Bednar and Munz about the Broncos Memorial Golf Tournament and the work it has done.