He was a son, brother, father, husband, and friend. He was also a hockey player.
Gadge Jhuty died of cancer on Oct. 26, and the Howe Sound Men's Hockey League won't forget him. The Red Wings and the Flyers played a game in memory of him on Oct. 27.
"It was in honour of Gadge," said Flyer goalie Steve Hadden. "At the first whistle, we stopped and had a minute of silence in memory.
"It was hugely emotional. We're all pretty close to Gadge. We tend to hang around with each other off the ice as well.
"He was the heart and soul of his team."
The last game Jhuty played with his team was in 2003.
"Gadge's last game was something special," Hadden said.
Jhuty, the Red Wings' goalie, hadn't played for most of the season, but his team put him in net for the fifth and deciding game for the league championship between the Red Wings and the Flyers.
The Red Wings had won the first two games, and the Flyers the next two.
"He started the fifth and deciding game a couple of days after treatment and played spectacularly in a huge, gutsy effort and led the Red Wings to a championship victory," Hadden said.
"He was one of the best goalies to play in the men's league."
Jhuty was president of the hockey league in for the 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 season and created positive changes.
"When the league was floundering he stepped in and righted the ship," Hadden said.
Hadden had stepped down as league president, and after some issues with teams and management, Jhuty became the league president.
Jhuty came in and reduced all the teams to six players and instigated a draft system.
"We're still using Gadge's draft system," Hadden said.
Jhuty started playing men's hockey on the Hornets teams (since dissolved) and he was the driving force behind the Red Wings, said Hadden.
Jhuty was diagnosed with cancer in 1999.
"He battled the disease for quite a while," Hadden said. "He put up an incredible fight for a long time."
But Hadden doesn't dwell on the effects the disease had on his friend.
"I think of him playing well. I think of him with respect and fondness. We all will.
"I miss him already."
A memorial service was held on Oct. 31 at Brennan Park Recreation Centre at 11 a.m. Hadden said around 400 people attended.
And Jhuty's goalie tradition continues. His son is a goalie for the PeeWee Eagles.
"He's got a great young goalie following in his footsteps," Hadden said.
