By REJEAN CANTLON
Joe White is a hockey coach for the Faustina Hockey Club, and like many local hockey coaches, he is an unpaid volunteer. Sadly for many of his players and their families, the 2019-20 season was his last. Coach Joe has decided to hang up his coach’s whistle but not leave the game he loves entirely.
White’s contributions to minor hockey in South Etobicoke include coaching hockey for the better part of 15 years with various organizations and guiding the Faustina Fury U18 select program for the last five. He capped off his most recent campaign with a gold medal win with the NYHL Tier 2 Championship in 2018/19 season, the team was immediately promoted to Tier 1 and they had their sites on going deep into the playoffs, with another possible championship well in sight before the pandemic hit and their season was halted.
What’s special about Coach Joe has nothing to do with his successes on the ice but more about what his efforts mean to his players as a person. When he joined the team in 2012, his daughter, Cristina was part of the team. A few years later she decided to move on and leave the team, yet Coach Joe’s work was not done. He loved this team so much he decided to stay on and continue as head coach. His tireless volunteer commitment was not for the accolades but for the love of the game. White plans to stay on as a Faustina Member and as a member of its Board of Governors next season.
“For five years, Joe has been dedicated to our kids,” says incoming head coach, Ken Graydon. “Joe is always so organized and ready for practices and games. You can tell he really cares about the players and their development. Most of all, the kids really like playing together and I think it is because of the positive atmosphere Joe gives the team. Not only does he push them to be better, he also finds the time to smile and laugh along the way.”
On a warm, wet night in July during a pandemic, the team did what they could to honour their coach. They presented him with a personal gift that would have normally been given at an end of year banquet in person. Instead, they did the next best thing. Joe’s boys all signed a Faustina jersey in his honour and virtually presented it to him via a Zoom call.
Coach Joe acknowledged the gift with the grace that he has shown throughout his tutelage. “This jersey, signed by all of you, will always have a place of honour in my home. No doubt about it. Go get them next year boys! I know you can do it!”