Following the Westside Warriors season finale, captain and three-year Warrior veteran Alex Grieve took some time to show his appreciation for his adoptive home by penning the following open letter.
To The City of West Kelowna and the Westside Warriors organization,
It has been an honour to live and play hockey in your town for the past three years.
I would like to thank the people of Westbank for coming to the rink cheering on their home team and really becoming much more than just fans. The community has been amazing since the first time I stepped onto the ice.
It feels like just yesterday when my parents dropped me of at Royal LePage Place for my first day of junior hockey. I have learned so much, on and off the ice, during my time in Westside. I really enjoyed reading or playing road hockey at the elementary schools, working with minor hockey teams and getting to know the fans away from the rink.
The Warriors organization has let me live a dream: To wake up every day and play a sport I have loved my whole life.
I have been so fortunate to be able to leave my home town and come to a place, and a team, who is as passionate about the sport as I am. A team that cares as much about creating well-rounded individuals as it does wins and losses.
I truly love this team, this community, and will support them for the rest of my life.
I would like to thank the Sollows family (my billet family). They brought me into their home and treated me like I was one of their own. I truly have learned so many life lessons from you.
Secondly, I would like to thank the Cheyne family for everything they have done for me and the team. They are the best owners in junior hockey, bar none.
Finally, I would like to thank Coach Mark Howell and Darren Yopyk for bringing me here as an 18 year old rookie, and making me into a 20 year old captain.
The future for this team is bright and I can see a championship on the horizon.
Thank you for everything!
You will be sorely missed.
Warm Regards,
Alex Grieve
~Forever Your Captain~
