Ottawa 67’s Do It For Daron Hits Close To Home

There’s just something about Do It For Daron that lifts the 67’s on the annual fundraiser night, beating Sarnia for their third consecutive victory on DIFD night.

It’s always been a point of importance and closeness for the Barberpoles — ex-forward Andrew Abou-Assaly losing a close friend in Daron Richardson.

This year was a little different and even more heartfelt on both sides. This time, Sarnia had a connection.

There’s no doubt Jakob Chychrun is the future captain of the Sting, set to take every ceremonial faceoff every night in the near future, but on this night he did the honours for a special reason.

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With his father, former NHL-er and Luke Richardson’s brother-in-law Jeff Chychrun watching on, the younger Chychrun took part in the pre-game ceremony honouring the late Daron.

Watching on from the home bench, not officially a relative of the Richardson’s but equally touched by Daron’s tragic death, was 67’s head coach Jeff Brown.

“Jeff Chychrun and I grew up together, he’s one of my best friends, and we’re very close to the family,” said Brown.

“I know the Richardsons very well, it’s horrible what happened but it’s brought some attention. They’ve done an unbelievable job. I was glad to be a part of it tonight.”

The 67’s steamrolled an undisciplined Sarnia team 5-0, the attention post-game solely on a pair of reckless headshots by the visitors, the second of which knocked Ben Fanjoy out of the game.

But the tone quickly changed back to the initiative at hand, the tremendous charity work that’s been done this past week and that cultivated at Lansdowne.

It’s a statement often thrown around that the hockey community, through toughness and tragedy, is a family.

For the Chychrun family and their connection to Do It For Daron, the family aspect is literal.

For Jeff Brown and his 67’s, it’s not quite as literal, but it’s just as important.

Photo courtesy of Valerie Wutti