It is with sadness that the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League announces the passing of Wayne March on Sept. 17, 2024. The league offers its condolences to the March family and is thinking of them during this difficult time.
March, along with Doug Birks, was responsible for starting up the Sicamous Eagles franchise. After winning a Coy Cup championship in 1993-94, the Eagles’ 10th and final season in the Okanagan Senior Men’s AA Hockey League, the organization made the move to the KIJHL. They won the league championship against the Castlegar Rebels, their first of three titles, in that inaugural season. The Eagles have competed for the KIJHL championship six times.
Sheila Devost, the Eagles governor and past president, said without March, “there are no Eagles.”
“Wayne was the Eagles, and still is very much present in that arena when you go in. We’re doing our best to make him proud as we enter into our 30th season,” she said. “His spirit and his ways really do live on in many ways with the team. He is mentioned quite often.”
A tribute story for March will be posted on the league website in the near future.
