When Carson Crimeni was playing right wing in the 91原创 Minor Hockey League, he wasn鈥檛 the fastest skater on the ice.
But he was a tactical player, who would park himself in front of the other team鈥檚 net, and use that position to shovel the puck back in on a rebound.
They might have been 鈥済arbage goals,鈥� his grandfather, Darrel Crimeni, commented, but they still counted.
鈥淎 goal is a goal,鈥� Darrel observed.
READ MORE: Almost 100 witnesses spoke to police in Carson Crimeni investigation
On Friday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m., a memorial to Carson will be unveiled at the 91原创 Sportsplex on 20165 91A Ave. where he used to play.
The event will be open to the public.
鈥淚t was his home rink,鈥� Darrel explained.
Carson鈥檚 jersey with his number 14 has been neatly folded and mounted in a shadow box display along with a photo of him in his hockey garb, smiling.
鈥淗e had fun,鈥� Darrel recalled.
After Carson died, a young player got his hockey gear, purchased when he had just outgrown his last set of skates and pads.
Darrel views the memorial, the idea of Carson鈥檚 last team manager, as another way of educating people about the kind of drug abuse that is believed responsible for Carson鈥檚 death, after he was discovered in severe medical distress near the Walnut Grove skate park last August.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about public awareness,鈥� Darrel told the 91原创 Advance Times, more than a reminder of his late grandson.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got lots of fond memories of Carson.鈥�
Darrel supports the idea of renaming the skate park after Carson, but he is doubtful it will happen, despite an online campaign launched by a 91原创 dad whose online petition at change.org, 鈥溾�� has collected more than 3,800 signatures so far.
Police have informed the family that their report on the investigation into Carson鈥檚 death has been given to the Crown counsel prosecutor鈥檚 office, which will decide whether charges are laid.
They were told it was filed at the end of December, said Darrel.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still waiting [to hear if any charges will be laid].鈥�
For on Feb. 26, Darrel had four dozen t-shirts printed up with the anti-bullying message 鈥減lay and be kind 4 Carson鈥� to give away.
He ran out almost instantly.
鈥淚 could have made a hundred,鈥� he estimated.
Some people suggested he could have sold the t shirts to raise funds rather than give them away, something Darrel hadn鈥檛 considered, but might try next year.
READ MORE: A Christmas without Carson
READ MORE: A Halloween memorial for 91原创 teen who died of apparent drug overdose
Carson was found in severe medical distress in the area of the Walnut Grove skate park on Aug. 7 by police who tried to revive him while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
Video clips posted to social media show the 91原创 teen barely able to stand or speak while people can be heard laughing.
READ MORE: VIDEO: Grandfather speaks out about teen who died after overdosing in 91原创 park
READ MORE: Carson: A 91原创 teen鈥檚 death on social media
READ MORE: Social media posts about Carson Crimeni could hamper investigation, police warn
His father Aron said he has been told an autopsy found no injuries or health problems that would account for the 14-year-old 91原创 teen鈥檚 death.
READ MORE: No negligence in RCMP actions in Carson Crimeni death: Watchdog
A review by the police watchdog Independent Investigations Office (IIO) found the officers who tried and failed to locate Carson Crimeni on that night acted properly.
In the report, IIO chief director Ronald J. MacDonald described how, by the time the first officers arrived at the Walnut Grove Skate Park on Aug. 7 to search for Carson, the boy and the group of teens he was thought to be with had left.
A second 9-1-1 call about Carson came at 10:39 p.m., after he was discovered near the baseball diamond, and paramedics and police were again dispatched, this time finding him.
He was rushed to hospital but died later that night.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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