On the night he scored the overtime winner in a 5-4 win over the Saginaw Spirit, Kashawn Aitcheson didn’t mind seeding the spotlight to Kyle Clifford at Sadlon Arena.
The defenceman, like the rest of his teammates and over 3,700 fans, had watched before the game as the organization paid tribute to the former Colt power forward and two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Los Angeles Kings by raising his No. 13 to the rafters on Thursday night.
While playing different positions, there are many similarities to Aitcheson’s and Clifford’s games. Both are menacing physical players who deliver crushing hits and are willing to drop the mitts with anyone while sticking up for their teammates.
After three years with the Colts from 2007 to 2010, Clifford went on to a 13-year NHL career with the Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Toronto Maple Leafs, and is currently a winger with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies.
A pro career that Aitcheson, one of this year’s top NHL Draft prospects, dreams of embarking on himself.
“I was talking with (teammate) Cole Beaudoin and it’s just so inspiring seeing a guy like that,” said the 18-year-old after watching a tribute video that featured clips of his time in Barrie and in the NHL. “He comes in and treats you like another person.
“Those are the guys you look up to. It’s so cool to see him pay us back and to see his jersey retired.”
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Clifford is just the third member of the franchise to receive the special tribute. Former captain Bryan Little also had his jersey retired alongside the special banner of former head coach Dale Hawerchuk.
Surrounded by his wife Paige, sons Brody, Riker, and Cooper, and parents John and Debbie, the bruising six-foot-two, 218-pound forward held back his emotions while addressing the crowd during the tribute.
“It’s a special honour,” Clifford told the crowd, which included many of his Marlies teammates.
Clifford also had advice for Aitcheson and his teammates before the game in the dressing room.
“I remember sitting here 16 years ago with a team built very similar to this one and the one regret I had was we lost,” said the native of Ayr, remembering the loss to the Windsor Spitfires in the 2010 OHL championship. “That kind of stuck with me, so I want you guys to come together, and I’d love to see you guys win (the Memorial Cup) in June.
“Because junior hockey is the best time, and it’s a lot of fun.”
Clifford went on to record 66 goals and 144 points over 753 NHL games and was the prototypical power forward when the Kings selected him in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Current Colts general manager and head coach Marty Williamson coached Clifford in Barrie. His smile said it all.
“It really was fantastic,” Williamson said of the tribute. “I got a ton of appreciation for the Clifford family. Seeing him and his boys now, he’s such a proud dad. He’s had a great career. This is a guy that made his career. He found a way to stay in the NHL and play on championship teams.”
Williamson said he has a ton of respect for his former winger and says that nights like these are what the sport is all about.
“To see him and Bryan up there, they’re different players but they’re both my guys and they’re both such character kids,” he said. “Bryan was blessed with a little more talent, Clifford was blessed with more toughness, but they both found ways to have great careers.”
Williamson praised Clifford for his character and the man he has become on and off the ice. He spoke of the time after how taking the head coaching job with the Niagara IceDogs he had fallen ill and was away from the team for a bit.
There came a knock at the door at his home and there stood Clifford’s parents, John and Debbie.
“It’s always stuck with me,” he said of the visit. “I was shocked when I opened the door and the two of them introduced themselves and I said, ‘I know who you are.’ It was just extremely special.
“They happened to be in the area, they knew I was going through a tough time and they just wanted to drop in and say hi, tell me a little bit about how Cliffy was doing. If you want to see where Cliffy gets his character, it’s his mom and dad.”
Clifford also received a replica of the banner in a frame from the Colts. As well, every Colt was sporting Clifford’s No. 13 jersey and his name when they took to the ice for the pregame warmup.
