Following the tragic death of Estevan Bantam AA Bruins hockey coach Mike Sarada, the team set out a plan to honour a man that created such a large impact in the hockey community.

Shortly after his passing, they held Mike Sarada Memorial Day on February 11th, to celebrate the Assistant Coach and help raise funds for the Mike Sarada Athlete Education Centre. For a man that spent countless hours teaching minor hockey players, a learning centre in his name is the perfect fit.

Mike Sarada had spent the past five season's behind the Bantam AA Estevan TS&M Bruins bench.(Photo courtesy of Tom Copeland)

"Right now from fundraising we're over $40,000 so that's good," explained Mike's friend and fellow coach, Tom Copeland. "We're working on the planning right now, we've been taking our time with it. We originally thought that we were going to fast-track it, and we still have hope for it to be open by the beginning of September, but we're just trying to make sure that we get it done right the first time."

A lot of planning has already gone into what will be in the room, and according to Copeland, it's going to feature the necessary technology and equipment to allow proper video analysis and teaching for athletes in Estevan Minor Hockey. Copeland has been doing his due diligence on what will be put into the room, and shared where they are looking at as examples.

"We've been scouring around the province trying to see some of the new video rooms that have been built and trying to make sure we get the right technology. The Riders just built a new video facility at the new Mosaic stadium, the Huskies just built one in Saskatoon and then Hockey Canada just built one in Calgary. We're trying to get our eyes on all three of those venues before we move ahead too far, because you're talking about a fairly major expenditure."

"The city is behind us and they've given us the space to do it in and we're excited to get rolling," Copeland said.

The potential of a room like this will be a major benefit to Estevan Minor Hockey, while honouring a man who is close to the hearts of so many people in south east Saskatchewan.

Plans to honour fallen coach.

Community celebrates Mike Sarada.