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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The stands above the Ed Jeske ice at the Yellowknife Multiplex will be a little quieter now, missing the ubiquitous clang of a cowbell rang for decades by a local hero.

Ed Jeske was a strong supporter of local hockey, especially the oldtimers league. He died Saturday at age 85. - NNSL file photo

Jeske died Saturday after a stay in hospital. He was 85 and his loss was felt everywhere from the rink that bears his name all the way to Montreal.

NWT Premier Bob McLeod took a few moments to reflect on the man who many credit with building Yellowknife hockey.

"I heard yesterday morning, and I was very sad," McLeod said Monday by phone from a conference in Montreal.

"I've lost - not only myself - but a lot of people in the NWT have lost a lifetime friend and in my case a very big supporter," McLeod said.

"I first met Ed when I was about 13 years old, through playing hockey. I've known him ever since then," the premier said.

Jeske was a strong supporter of local hockey, especially the oldtimers league.

"He'd come to our tournaments with his friends, like Smokey Heal, and he'd have his cowbell," McLeod recalled.

Closer to home, Jeske's death will be especially hard to take at the rink, said Yellowknife minor hockey coach and special events director Dan Schofield.

"He's been a longtime servant for hockey in this community back when it wasn't as structured," Schofield said.

"Hockey was extremely important to him. Not only to him and his sons, but Ed enjoyed watching all kids play hockey. Personally, he took a sincere interest in my two boys. He loved to pass his time at the rink," Schofield said.

Jeske arrived in the North in the mid-1950s from Swan River, Man. He worked mostly in construction, first in Inuvik, helping to build the town's airstrip, and came to Yellowknife in 1958.

"To the oldtime hockey community, it'll mean a great loss. I think to oldtimers that are now sort of 40s, 50s and 60s in age, Ed meant a great deal to that population," Schofield said.

"Most people called himGrandpa Ed. He took an interest in all kinds of kids. Once he was too old to coach, he still came to the rink, he was always at the oldtimer tournaments, 'cause those are the guys he used to coach. He meant a lot to hockey in this town," Schofield said.

For years, whenever Jeske wasn't at the rink, he was at Sir John Franklin School, teaching mechanics until he retired in 1989. There is hardly a community in the North that doesn't have one of his graduates fixingcars, saidSir John assistant principal Al McDonald. McDonald worked with Jeske at the school foralmost a decade.

"He is a piece of Sir John history because he was one of the first set of teachers," McDonald said. "He was outgoing and friendly to all the new teachers. I've lost a mentor and a friend."

Jeske taught for 31 years at Sir John, guiding students through the intricacies of everything from automotive mechanics to construction and heavy equipment operation. Despite the workload, his commitment to hockey never waned.

"I used to sneak out of work at 4 p.m. and I'd ref and coach at the same time," Jeske told Yellowknifer in a 2009 profile of the local legend. "I'd blow the whistle every three minutes or so to make line changes. It was really tough."

In 2001 McDonald nominated Jeske tothe Education Hall of Fame for his commitment to Yellowknife's kids, both on and off the ice.

"He was so humble. I honestly don't know where his need to help came from. He was always very active with his church, and helping people was just part of his philosophy," McDonald said.

Along with the Education Hall of Fame andthe rink named in his honour, Jeske was also given a tribute with a trophy named after him to be presented to theYellowknife oldtimer league'smost valuable player in the annualBalsillie Cup.

"Ed always went into the dressing room at the Balsillie Cup. He was there this year even, in January, despite his health. Usually no one's allowed in the dressing rooms except the teams, but they always made an exception for Ed," McDonald said.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem agreed that Jeske's most memorable trait was his humility.

"Ed Jeske was a local sports icon, but he also raised his family here. In most recent years he was the pre-eminent chauffeur for many of the seniors that neededto get around. I admired Ed for his modesty. He contributed quite a bit, and was quite a sincere and humble man," Van Tighem said.

Ed leaves behind two sons, Dale and Wayne, and a daughter, Cindy.

The outpouring of grief at his passing is testament to her father's impact on the community and the legacy he will leave, Cindy said.

"It really touches us. We really had no idea that this many people felt this way. I know a lot of people respected him in the community, but this really touches us. We just didn't realized how vast his impact was. I don't know if my dad recognized it. He would really be amazed at the outpouring of love, and everything that's been happening," she said.

A memorial is scheduled for Saturdayat NorthernUnited Place in accordance with Jeske's wishes.

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