Community mourns loss of Woodville youth Rowen Greening as tributes pour in across the hockey world

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

NORTH DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: The community is grieving, following the tragic passing of Woodville youth Rowen Greening, whose life touched countless people both on and off the ice.

Rowen, a Grade 6 student and a member of the North Durham Warriors Under-12 AA hockey team, passed away, following an ATV accident, on Thursday, March 5th. In the days since, an outpouring of love and support has spread throughout the region and across the provincial hockey community, as friends, teammates, and organizations remember the young player.

Rowen’s love of the game extended across several local programs. In addition to playing with the North Durham Warriors, he also played hockey in both Woodville and Brock, making him a familiar face at arenas throughout the community.

On Sunday afternoon, Rowen’s teammates with the North Durham Warriors took part in a special pre-game ceremony, at Scugog Arena. The ceremony was just ahead of the Provincial Junior Hockey League playoff game, between the Port Perry LumberJacks and the Uxbridge Bruins. The tribute recognized Rowen’s love of the game and the deep impact he had on those around him.

North Durham Minor Hockey shared the heartbreaking news in a statement, released to the community.

“It is with profound sadness that North Durham Minor Hockey [NDMH] shares the heartbreaking news of the passing of one of our players,” Dave Mountsteven, Vice President of the NDMH association said, in a statement. “On behalf of our entire association, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, teammates, coaches, and all who knew and loved him. Words cannot fully express the sorrow felt across our hockey community, during this incredibly difficult time.”

The association described Rowen as a valued member of the hockey family, whose passion and energy were evident every time he stepped on the ice.

“Rowen Greening was a valued member of our hockey family, who brought passion, energy, and a true love of the game every time he stepped onto the ice. His teammates will remember him, not only for the player he was, but for the friend and teammate who shared the locker room, practices, and unforgettable moments [which] make hockey so special.”

Rowen’s mother also shared a deeply emotional message, online over the weekend, as the family began to process their loss.

“It is with the most devastated hearts (our family) announce the tragic passing of our beloved son and brother Rowen Greening,” she wrote. “There are no words to describe the love we have for our beautiful baby boy. Anyone who has ever met him knew what a special kid he was. His humour and wit was unmatched, he was a devoted and loyal friend, always a mischievous glint in his eye.”

She spoke of Rowen’s deep love for hockey and the dedication he showed to the sport and his teammates.

“His talent and devotion to his favourite sport of hockey always had me in awe. This kid gave everything on and off ice for the love of hockey and his team. We would all be so lucky to be a fraction of a leader this kid was.”

More than anything, she remembered the love he showed his family.

“What hurts the most is how much this kid loved. He loved his family with his whole heart, always checking in with a hug and never hesitated with an ‘I love you’ or a kiss, even if it was in front of friends or others.”

In the wake of his passing, a simple but powerful tribute has begun appearing outside homes across the community. Families have been placing two hockey sticks and often a jersey, at their front doors, in honour of Rowen, who wore number two.

The gesture, shared online, using the hashtag #2sticksfornumber2, has spread across North Durham and beyond, as hockey families and community members show their support for the Greening family and Rowen’s teammates.

“The loss of a young member of our community is felt deeply by everyone connected to our association,” Dave Mountsteven, NDMH Vice President, added in a statement. “Our thoughts remain with his family and loved ones as they navigate this unimaginable loss.”

While the grief remains overwhelming for those who knew him, the community response has shown just how many lives Rowen touched in his 12 years.