The Sault Ringette Club wishes to express our condolences to the family of Dave Nocioli
Submitted By Debbie Jo Linklater on Friday, March 1, 2013
The Sault Ringette Club wishes to express our condolences to the family of Dave Nocioli. Sports Gold and Dave was a long time sponsor of the Sault Ringette Club as well as a friend and supporter. Dave supplied us with our first Ringette tournament team travel apparel in the 1980’s and prior to that kept everyone in the SRHA (Sault Recreation Hockey Association) dressed and equipped as well.
Dave always had Ringette sticks available in the early years and when Canadian Tire no longer sold Ringette equipment Dave was the only sports store to do so. Whether he ordered one of something or more, it was never a bother. We would see a new product at a tournament, come home and tell Dave and he would have it in the store for us. As the sport of Ringette evolved so did what Dave carried in the store. If he didn’t have it, he’d get it.
Several years ago we decided to offer a Bunny Learn to Skate Program. We approached Dave to buy equipment so we could offer “Bunny in a Bag”. We wanted everyone to be able to play the game and renting equipment for the sessions seemed like the right thing to do.
We walked out of Sports Gold with 2 sets of jerseys, 10 huge hockey bags each filled with gloves, shin pads, elbow pads and shoulder pads. He said we were doing him a favour because he was getting out of the smaller sizes. The end of the first Bunny season he provided our signature “Bunny trophy”. That was just what Dave did. He never wanted a fuss a made. He was happy to see children of all ages play sports.
Each year he was invited to be our guest at the banquet. We wanted to recognize him for his sponsorship as well as being such a good friend to the Sault Ringette Club. Each year he politely declined. He did what he did because he wanted to, not to be recognized. He was a very humble man.
You could not go in to Sports Gold for a minute because you had to chat with Dave. He truly cared about what your child was up to whether it was on the soccer field or at the rink.
It can truly be said that there will never be anyone that can take his place. He is missed by many already.
From the Sault Ringette Family,
Thank you Dave.