By Dorian Geiger

In a town notorious throughout Saskatchewan for the brutality of their hockey fans, the usual heckles and jeers that resound from Kerrobert have been replaced with tears and mourning after the death of 26-year-old Tigers senior hockey player Deon Volk.
After engaging in a recreational hockey game at Kerrobert’s arena, Volk suddenly collapsed on the ice while skating back to his bench on Dec. 17. Volk was later pronounced dead from what has been speculated to be a heart attack or cardiovascular related dysfunction.
The untimely passing of such a young hockey player, also a husband and father, comes at an unprecedented time in Kerrobert hockey history. For the first time in decades, the hockey-oriented Kerrobert failed to organize a senior hockey team to compete due to conflicting schedules, lack of interest and a focus on local talent without the help of import players.
Kerrobert resident Scott Witt, 41, also an ex-Tiger, has been a family and lifelong friend of Volk’s and thinks Volk’s spirit for the game may motivate the Tigers to renew their strong tradition within the ranks of Saskatchewan senior hockey next season.
“Deon was one of the hardest working guys you’d ever meet. He was an excellent skater, was fast, played with grit – and heart – and determination. Never in a dirty way,” noted Witt about the kind of hockey player Volk was while attempting to hold back tears for his close friend.
“Deon was very clean – and was one of the most well respected players in the league. And if you’d ask anybody on any other team they’d probably say the same. Deon played with passion but was always very respected.”
Still somewhat involved within team operations in Kerrobert, Witt organized for the Sask West Hockey League trophy to be present at Volk’s funeral service on Dec. 23. Though the trophy was in the possession of 2009 SWHL champs the Leader Flyers, the Flyers’ executive respectfully consented to Witt and the Tigers’ request and transported the trophy to Kerrobert a day before the service. Prior to Leader hoisting the trophy last year, the Tigers were league champs in 2008 and rightly deserved to have the crown jewel of the SWHL present at Volk’s funeral.
“I think the important reason is that hockey was Deon’s passion,” sombrely added Witt on the significance of having the trophy present at Volk’s funeral ceremony.
“He loved to play and he played in the league for eight years and there will be a lot of people from around the league there – all of the guys Deon played with throughout the years. I think everybody feels that it would be something that he would have wanted and would be important to him,” said Witt.
The SWHL also sent out a league-wide memo inviting players of opposing teams to come out and wear their jersey at the funeral in respect of Volk. Unfortunately, the hectic holiday season prevented any of the Leader Flyers to make the trip to Kerrobert to honour Volk.
A forward, Volk grew up and played the majority of his minor hockey in Kerrobert where he learned how to tie his skates and tape a hockey stick. Volk joined the Tigers senior team in 2001 and for the next eight years Volk would dedicate himself to the rural religion that is hockey on the prairies.
Kerrobert’s new Junior B team, the Rage, raised nearly $5,000 for Volk’s wife Tracy and son Avery soon after Volk’s passing. Nearly everyone in attendance wore a Tigers jersey and Rage players who knew Volk wore a sticker of his number 16 on the sides of their helmets to honour the local athlete.
Hockey is one of those things that remains a cultural phenomenon on the prairies for many reasons. In this case, one can’t help but not overlook hockey’s ability to unite a community and provide healing during the mourning of someone close. And as Witt insinuated, it will be no surprise to see the Tigers back in SWHL action next year fiercely fighting for the league championship in memory of Volk.
Doug Flahr is another Kerrobert resident that has been profoundly involved with Tigers hockey for two decades and was the club’s manager the first five years Volk played with the senior team.
“I would hope that all the players in the league (SWHL) would gain a little perspective from this tragic event and realize that life is precious, that winning is important but not at all costs,” said Flahr via e-mail last week.
“I think they (teams) might start respecting each other a little more. This just might bring everyone closer together and could make the league stronger.”
Flahr fondly recalls Volk’s friendly relationship with the Tiger’s executive and often chatted with before, after and during games. As for the future fate of the Tigers, Flahr also thinks the memory of Volk will be enough to ice a team next season.
“I would hope that some interested community members would get things started again. Deon was one of the main guys interested in getting the Tigers back in the League. Hopefully some of his friends would help get it going out of respect for him,” noted Volk.
Simply put, hockey was and will eternally remain Volk’s identity. Everyone who knew and loved Volk – even just as an acquaintance – can take solace and comfort in knowing that Volk left this world wearing skates and doing what he loved to do most.