Hofstra Remembers Lost Player
ECRHA November 18th, 2008 at 6:16PM November 22nd, 2008 5:59PM
On Nov. 8, 2008, Keith Cerrato's number nine jersey was raised at
SkateSafe America, home of the University's Roller Hockey team.
Teammates, family, friends and alumni looked on with fond memories as
they listened to "The Man Who Never Stopped Smiling" and held Cerrato's
memory close.
Tragically, on Dec. 8, 2006 Cerrato was killed in a hit and run accident.
Now, the number nine will never be worn again by a Hofstra Roller Hockey player but will hang forever at SkateSafe America in Old Bethpage.
"The number itself is irrelevant," says A.J. Frey, the Graduate Adviser for the team and a former teammate of Keith. "What it signifies to me and to a number of other current and former players, is that it will forever be missing from the rink, and that the relationships and memories that you create with teammates and classmates," he concluded.
The ceremonies came in between the 6:15 game and the 7:15 game, following a well-fought game between the University and Suffolk County Community College(SCCC). The first speaker was Team President James Arnone, who scored his first collegiate point on an assist to Cerrato.
Cerrato's tenacity on the ice was shown in every shift. He skated with passion and fire, but this type of personality extended beyond the rink. Arnone continued with speaking about how Cerrato was a reliable person. He was the type of person who, "you could always go to, whether it be advice or just a friend" Arnone noted. "It was no coincidence that he was referred to as 'The Man Who Never Stopped Smiling,'" Arnone said.
Arnone then passed the microphone to defenseman Pat Reba, who also played with Cerrato. "Keith was hard-working. He participated in many of our fundraisers. And I was lucky enough to call him my friend," Reba said. The applause erupted between each speaker, as the large crowd paid its respects to memories of Cerrato.
A slide show followed, displaying several pictures of Keith, a smile upon his face in each and every one. The show concluded with a picture of his number nine jersey, while his real jersey was being raised into the rafters.
With the lights off, and the spotlight shining on his jersey in the rafters, the applause continued at SkateSafe America, the home of the Hofstra Pride, and now, Keith Cerrato's number nine jersey.
"It's great. It [the ceremony] really gives us all closure," said Mike Fusco following the game against SCCC. "Even the guys who did not know Keith, it was just nice to have the see Keith through our eyes," Fusco added. "To Keith, it was more about brotherhood and friendship and being together. He could have fun no matter what, he always had a smile on his face," Fusco said. "And that smile is all I could think about when I was playing tonight," Fusco concluded, with a smile.
Arnone, who also just concluded skating against SCCC, was appreciative of all of those who were able to honor Cerrato and the retirement of his jersey. "I think what we did tonight was a great thing for Keith. He was one of the best players I have ever seen. He had the heart of a warrior, and he was the definition of a great teammate. In my mind, he was the role model for Hofstra Roller Hockey," Arnone said.
And if Keith Cerrato were standing there, next in line to be interviewed following a hard fought hockey game, he would most certainly be smiling-and there is no place he would've rather been.
Now, the number nine will never be worn again by a Hofstra Roller Hockey player but will hang forever at SkateSafe America in Old Bethpage.
"The number itself is irrelevant," says A.J. Frey, the Graduate Adviser for the team and a former teammate of Keith. "What it signifies to me and to a number of other current and former players, is that it will forever be missing from the rink, and that the relationships and memories that you create with teammates and classmates," he concluded.
The ceremonies came in between the 6:15 game and the 7:15 game, following a well-fought game between the University and Suffolk County Community College(SCCC). The first speaker was Team President James Arnone, who scored his first collegiate point on an assist to Cerrato.
Cerrato's tenacity on the ice was shown in every shift. He skated with passion and fire, but this type of personality extended beyond the rink. Arnone continued with speaking about how Cerrato was a reliable person. He was the type of person who, "you could always go to, whether it be advice or just a friend" Arnone noted. "It was no coincidence that he was referred to as 'The Man Who Never Stopped Smiling,'" Arnone said.
Arnone then passed the microphone to defenseman Pat Reba, who also played with Cerrato. "Keith was hard-working. He participated in many of our fundraisers. And I was lucky enough to call him my friend," Reba said. The applause erupted between each speaker, as the large crowd paid its respects to memories of Cerrato.
A slide show followed, displaying several pictures of Keith, a smile upon his face in each and every one. The show concluded with a picture of his number nine jersey, while his real jersey was being raised into the rafters.
With the lights off, and the spotlight shining on his jersey in the rafters, the applause continued at SkateSafe America, the home of the Hofstra Pride, and now, Keith Cerrato's number nine jersey.
"It's great. It [the ceremony] really gives us all closure," said Mike Fusco following the game against SCCC. "Even the guys who did not know Keith, it was just nice to have the see Keith through our eyes," Fusco added. "To Keith, it was more about brotherhood and friendship and being together. He could have fun no matter what, he always had a smile on his face," Fusco said. "And that smile is all I could think about when I was playing tonight," Fusco concluded, with a smile.
Arnone, who also just concluded skating against SCCC, was appreciative of all of those who were able to honor Cerrato and the retirement of his jersey. "I think what we did tonight was a great thing for Keith. He was one of the best players I have ever seen. He had the heart of a warrior, and he was the definition of a great teammate. In my mind, he was the role model for Hofstra Roller Hockey," Arnone said.
And if Keith Cerrato were standing there, next in line to be interviewed following a hard fought hockey game, he would most certainly be smiling-and there is no place he would've rather been.
From the Hofstra Chronicle
by Andrew Knoblauch in Features
