Andrew J. Gauthier Hockey Festival is part of hockey community

Matt Metcalf, Sports Editor
Posted 2/17/15

The Andrew J. Gauthier Hockey Festival continues to be a staple in the Warwick hockey community.

Gauthier, who passed away after a long battle with leukemia in 2007, has had his memory live on in …

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Andrew J. Gauthier Hockey Festival is part of hockey community

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The Andrew J. Gauthier Hockey Festival continues to be a staple in the Warwick hockey community.

Gauthier, who passed away after a long battle with leukemia in 2007, has had his memory live on in a number of ways. His Jersey is visible at Thayer Arena, with his number eight Toll Gate sweater folded and framed perfectly beside the scoreboard.

But his parents, Bob and Kathy, along with Andrew’s brother, Bobby, set out in 2008 to begin the Andrew J. Gauthier Scholarship Fund – which has raised more than 10,000 dollars for select student-athletes in Warwick – along with the Hockey Festival. Each year has been a successful one, bringing former friends, teammates and coaches together to remember the great person and athlete that Andrew was.

The eighth annual Festival took place this past weekend and, even though it was cut short due to weather, the story of Gauthier was shared with many players from in-state and out-of-state.

The Festival featured many midget teams this year, along with several Rhode Island high school teams – many of whom didn’t get a chance to play because of the storm.

Even though the players and faces change from year-to-year, and the current players weren’t even in middle school when the first Festival took place, there were still some players in this year’s Festival that had connections to Andrew.

On the Warwick Co-op girls’ hockey team, goaltender Erin Vermilye, defenseman Caroline Henn and forward Kelsey Holmes all have connections to Andrew or his family.

They were all proud to be able to participate in the eighth annual Festival.

“This Festival means a lot to the hockey community in Warwick,” Vermilye said. “It also means a lot to my family. My dad knew the Gauthier’s very well and my brother played hockey with Andy. I help as much as I can to keep this Festival alive because I know how much it means to everyone.”

Henn, whose brother Steve played with Andrew at Toll Gate, echoed the same passion that Vermilye did for the Festival.

“He was a great kid and a great player,” Henn said of Andrew. “Coming to these festivals is a good experience and a good remembrance of him. It’s a great thing that (Bob Gauthier) does for his son and I think that it’ll live on forever.”

Holmes’ family was also close with the Gauthier’s as she was growing up.

“Coming to the Festival and experiencing it allows you to remember the hockey community and what it means to everybody,” Holmes said.  

And for those who don’t know Andrew, the Gauthier’s or his story, it is a great learning experience for other players, as well.

Warwick head coach Dave Tibbetts has been coaching the Lady Titans for five years and his teams have participated every year.

He agreed that the annual festivals are a great tradition in the hockey community.

“It’s great for the community and brings a lot of teams together,” Tibbetts said. “Mr. Gauthier comes in and talks to the kids and a lot of kids don’t know the story. It just makes them realize how lucky they are to be healthy and to be playing a great game like hockey.”

One of the great moments in the weekend is the ceremony where players gather around the sign that reads ‘8 lives forever.’ Bob will say ‘number eight lives,’ and the players will scream ‘forever.’

Andrew’s jersey will continue to hang in Thayer Arena, as it should, but the festivals are what really allows the community to remember Andrew.

Thanks to the Gauthier’s, number eight will live forever.

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