Sal Grasso Thank You!!!

This past weekend Cape Ann Youth Hockey and the city of Gloucester hosted over 400 hockey players and their families from Westmount, Quebec. There were sixteen games played over the course of the past three days by boys and girls ranging from 5 to 14 years of age at the newly remodeled Dorothy Talbot Rink.
The Cape Ann/ Westmount Friendship Tournament was started back in 1987 by Sal Grasso of Gloucester, Mike Deegan and Pete Wallace of Westmount when Sal paid for a bus out of his own pocket and took a crew of Gloucester kids 6 hours north to play some hockey. The trek was a huge success as most players billeted with host families and formed bonds that continue to this day. When Sal passed in 2006 the Tournament was aptly named The Sal Grasso Friendship Tournament.
I never did have the opportunity to meet Coach Sal but in speaking with some of his players I was told that he was a big man with a big burly voice that was only overshadowed by his big heart. I was told of numerous random acts of kindness. Like taking the entire team out for Chinese food after a game or when a player needed a new piece of equipment it somehow found its way into their bag. By all accounts Mr. Grasso was one of those remarkable people that if you are truly lucky, you will get to meet one in your lifetime.
As a testament of Mr. Grasso, Mr. Deegan and Mr. Wallace’s vision; this year’s tournament saw the sons and daughters of those first players compete against each other 24 years later.
Cape Ann Youth Hockey would like to thank all of this year’s host families for opening up their homes so our guest’s players whose parents could not attend, Mayor Kirk for allowing us the usage of City Hall to hold our banquet and show off our beautiful city, Jeanine Harris and Rosalie Nicastro for walking us through the steps to host at City hall, Mike Hale and Mark Cole for their work in adjusting the rink schedule, Cape Ann Figure Skating Club for allowing us to inconvenience them, all the local establishments for their generous food donations, Nicole Curcuru, Jenn Costanzo, Kristin Michel, Lisa and Mike English, Rob Anderson, Jamie Marshall and the countless others that donated their time in making this season’s tournament a spectacular event.
On Behalf of all of Cape Ann Youth Hockey Nation,
Thank You,
Pete Scola
President
CAYH