The Loss of A Legend

 

When Dave Grace started Olympia sports camp one of his goals was to get the very best coaches he could, knowing that good coaching and commitment to helping young people is a cornerstone of any successful sports camp.

 


He found one of the greats in Canadian Basketball when he hired John Petrushchak.

 

Coach P passed away this week. When a legend dies, those left in his wake are left with sadness, memories and reflections. Many are reflecting on how this man impacted their lives.

 

Let me reflect.

 

I’m not one of the hundreds of players who were coached by Coach P at George Harvey or Runnymede Collegiate. Their reflections that I’ve read on social media show the depth of character of a man who would do anything to help a young person on and off the court. Many of those players had their very lives shaped by their time with Coach P. My connection came much later in my journey.



 

I first met John in my first year as a coach at Olympia Sports Camp week 8 in 1986. His humour and bigger-than life persona made this young coach latch on to him whenever I could. Yes, there were laughs but so much more. Because of our Olympia connection John invited my fledgling Bishop Reding team from Milton to play in the Runnymede pre-season tournament for a few years, knowing that it would help me, but more so it would help my players learn and grow. I remember one coach’s reception I was sitting at a table with John, Terry Thomson, and Bob Coull. Olympia legends all. OFSAA champs all.  I felt so over my head, yet those moments helped me develop my own voice by watching and learning from the best. Great coaches, better people.

 

Another memory is Coach P’s headliner sessions at Olympia. I was involved with WBA at the time and when John came to the session the first thing he always said to the girls was that he had four daughters. He was so proud of his beautiful daughters, and it was cool to see that this great coach was first a great father and a great man.


I feel so fortunate to have even met this man and so proud that I was able to gather his story for "A Hero's Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp."

 

The picture in this blog was shared by the Petrushchak family. They recently had their cottage sign redone to reflect on how much Olympia meant to their dad and the entire family. The ‘subdivisions’ reference goes way back to the days when the three screen motivational movies were done in the fieldhouse with the song “Subdivisions” by Rush.

 

Just as the sign maintains the memory of Olympia in the Petrushchak family, the legacy of John Petrushchak lives on in the lives of his four beautiful daughters, the hundreds of players he coached in his career, and many young coaches who saw what it takes to be a coach. 

 

Tomorrow, May 27, is John’s 83rd birthday. Happy Birthday and RIP to one of the true greats. John Petrushchak 

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