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CBHA Remembers #55 - Shawn Neary
2016-08-31
Shawn Neary was a valued member of the Canadian ball hockey family, and will be very much missed. PC: G. Crossman
Team Canada athlete Shawn Neary stickhandled his way through life with grace, humility and passion.
There was shock and sadness felt in many pockets of the country with the news that Neary died in the arms of his loving fiancée, Joy Green, Wednesday August 16 in St. John’s.
Mr. Neary, father of Ryan, 5, and Lexi, 2, was 43 years old.
Mr. Neary had collapsed at the end of a ball hockey game in Corner Brook on Aug. 16, and underwent surgery after being transported to hospital St. John’s later that day.
Says CBHA High Performance Director, George Gortsos, "I cannot recall the year in Cornerbrook, NL at CBHA Eastern's B & C but I would say it was early 2000's, I noticed this darting figure with a booming right shot leading the power play for Whelan's Gate with his sublime skilled partner in crime Jeremy Bishop. Big #55 was the QB, and the trigger man for the Gate. He ran like the athlete he was to dominate his fellow opposition as a great defender, and ball handler and passer for his forwards. I said this guy is a National Team talent. In my mind as then National Team Coach. A guy who will wear the National team jersey......Shawns passing is a big loss to the ball hockey community. My thoughts - our thouhgts - are with his young family at this devastating time.".
Mr. Neary touched the lives of those involved in the sports community over the past 20 years, and was clearly one of the best multi-sport athletes ever to play in his homeplace of Corner Brook.
Mr. Neary spent his entire life bringing fans to their feet with his athleticism and passion for sports, whether it was winning a gold medal for Team Canada on the world ball hockey stage or a Herder with the Corner Brook Royals.
The awards he collected through his involvement in baseball, softball, ball hockey, soccer and ice hockey are likely too numerous to count.
Continues Gortsos, "On behalf of CBHA HP, and all the players and coaches who had the honour to stand beside Shawn as a teammate and also a fair, skilled and honest ball hockey player he was. The great patriot of his beloved Newfoundland. And a guy who played for his country with heart, class and finally reaching the pinnacle as a World Champ. For his country of Canada. We send our deepest condolences and well wishes to his beloved family, close friends and the members of the NL community he was part of in our hockey world for years.
Written in part by Dave Kearsey, The Western Star.