The North Bay Battalion recognized a popular family prior to the start of the Battalion versus Windsor Spitfires game on Thursday, November 14.
However, it was not just a typical puck drop ceremony. In warmups, the Battalion came out sporting unique Turcotte Rangers style jersey's in recognition of former New York Ranger forward Darren Turcotte as part of Butch Turcotte Day,
To bid on a jersey click HERE.
Butch Turcotte passed away on July 2, 2024 at the Nipissing Serenity Hospice. He was 82.
Turcotte was remembered for helping create AAA hockey in North Bay, winning a national midget championship in North Bay as a head coach in 1984, and a provincial junior hockey league title with the North Bay Trappers back in 1976.
See related: Local sports icon passes
The 1992 North Bay Sports Hall of Fame inductee is also remembered for the countless hours spent operating the Labreche Forum for more than 40 years.
Turcotte link to NoahStrong
Those Turcotte jerseys were to be auctioned off with proceeds going to NoahStrong; honouring young hockey player Noah Dugas who passed away at the age of 13 back on November 13, 2020 due to a stroke.
Dave Dugas, Noah's father, credits Darren Turcotte for being a leader in helping to create NoahStrong Foundation along with Butch, his sister Alyson and brother-in-law Jeff Roynon.
"They were one of the first families that kind of stepped up to support us," explained Dave Dugas, noting the game takes place on Noah Strong Jersey Day in North Bay.
"Adam Dennis (Battalion president) suggested the jersey opportunity and we tossed ideas to tie in Darren.
"The team Darren is remembered the most for is his time with the Rangers and the iconic number '8'. All the practice jerseys have #8 and instead of Rangers, 'Turcotte' is written across the chest."
The proceeds from the auction will go to NoahStrong.
Darren's impressive hockey resume
As a player, Darren won an Air Canada Cup national title while playing for his dad Butch on the North Bay Pinehill squad at the Air Canada Cup National Midget Championships here in North Bay at this rink in 1984.
From there, Turcotte became a standout for the North Bay Centennials from 1984 to 1988, scoring 278 points during that time.
He was drafted by the New York Rangers, 114th overall, in the 1986 NHL entry draft. He scored 195 goals and added 216 assists in over 600 NHL games.
Darren was the leading rookie goal scorer in 1989 and played in the 1991 NHL All-Star game. He was inducted into the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
While his hockey resume as a player was impressive, his coaching accomplishments with the women's game may have even eclipsed his playing career...
After stints behind the bench with the North Bay Skyhawks and an assistant with the Nipissing Lakers varsity men's team, Turcotte moved on to lead the North Bay U18 Ice Boltz girls to an Esso Cup final in 2013 after winning a gold medal at the OWHA's finishing as Ontario champions...
Since the inaugural 2013-14 season, Turcotte has created a top notch program at Nipissing University.
He has led the Nipissing Lakers varsity women's team to the Nationals twice including a silver medal back in a memorable 2022 season.
His Lakers have also made it to the McCaw Cup three times and Turcotte has accumulated more than 140 OUA regular season wins along the way.
