CHERIE NOBLE - THE “MATRIARCH” OF THE MOUNT FOREST PATRIOTS
By: Emma Duggan, Ryerson Sport Media
Photo: Mount Forest Patriots
Cherie Noble was a dedicated volunteer for the Mount Forest Patriots hockey club for over twenty years. During her years at the club, she became a more prominent member of the day-to-day operations as she went above and beyond her duties of a volunteer to create a welcoming and fun atmosphere for everyone at the club. She was later given the job of team secretary. Last March, Cherie unexpectedly passed away from ovarian cancer. It has been a year since her passing and her memory still shines on at the club.
Cherie was an inspiration and a friendly face to all at the Mount Forest Patriot hockey club. She was present at every game, ready to greet the teams, the fans, the families and the facility management staff. She knew the organization better than most people and would never miss a home game. The club keeps a photograph of Cherie in the locker room to be reminded of her comforting, knowledgeable and friendly presence; and so she remains present on game day like in past years.
Cherie was passionate about helping others and started an annual toy drive at Christmas for the club a year and a half ago. The club has continued to run the drive in her memory and it was “the most successful this year” according to the club president Derek Bridgwater. Not only was this year successful in terms of the toy drive, it was also a successful season for the hockey club as they repeated as Pollock Cup Division Champions again this year after beating the Walkerton Hawks in six games.
The Mount Forest Patriots had never won a Pollock Cup Division Championship while Cherie was with the club, however, they won the championship title last year and dedicated the win to Cherie as “Cherie had been with the team for 20 plus years and had never won with the team. It was extra special as it was not just a win for the team but a win for Cherie” said Bridgwater. The players felt the loss of Cherie at this time and brought the cup over to her husband and long-time volunteer, Mike, when they dedicated the trophy and final win to her. The Patriots entered this year’s championship as the top seeded team this year and wanted to win the cup again for Cherie.
This season has been different though. For those who knew Cherie it was the first time the club found themselves without her for a full season in over twenty years. The people who knew Cherie from past seasons were the most effected by her absence, especially the executives “who quickly felt her absence and became acutely aware of everything she did for the club” according to Bridgwater. The Patriots are a close knit family and Cherie, while her title was secretary, was “in charge” and the “matriarch” of this club and her absence has been noticed.
While new players may not know who Cherie is and her impact on the club, the team still ensures there is a sense of family around the team, the executives and the fans as Cherie greatly encouraged the idea that the club was more than a business or athletics corporation, it was a family. Bridgwater says “this is the founding philosophy of our team.”
“There is no one word to describe Cherie” says Bridgwater when thinking back on his long-time friend. “Unforgettable, Inspirational, Memorable, Matriarch, Friend, I could go on...” are just a few words he used to describe Cherie. While it has been a year since her passing, we can safely say Cherie will never be forgotten and her memory and spirit will continue to live throughout all aspects of the Mount Forest Patriots hockey club.
