Tony Morabito loved Revelstoke.
One snowy evening during the 1992-93 season, Morabito and friend Kurt Pont were driving home after watching their sons play for the Golden Rockets, and Morabito had a realization. Driving in a blizzard made him question why they were driving in such conditions. Why Revelstoke didn’t have its own junior hockey team. Believing the town had enough local talent, he set the wheels in motion to create a team, ensuring players wouldn’t have to leave home to play a high level hockey.
That led to the berth of the Grizzlies, who began play in the KIJHL for the 1993-94 season, thanks to Morabito and a few friends, including close friend Pont.
“When he figured out something he wanted to do, he went whole hog,” said Pont, who was part of Morabito’s community-owned leadership group for the Grizzlies. “Tony was our leader.”
Morabito used his own money, which was paid back, to start the organization. Morabito wasn’t one who seeked the limelight, but he loved doing anything he could for the players – for the team.
“He loved the fundraisers. There was always fundraising, different ways to come up with money for the team and take care of the players,” said Morabito’s daughter Kerri Miskiman. “The players were treated really well. Back then they did everything for the players. The players didn’t pay anything. The team covered everything.”
Morabito was involved for at least a decade and was also part of the KIJHL executive.
What Pont liked about his friend was his honesty and integrity.
“When he said he was going to do something, he did it,” said Pont, who won a midget championship as Morabito’s assistant coach. “He explained himself well and people respected what he had to say.”
Grizzlies general manager Ryan Parent said Morabito, who passed away on Jan. 28 at the age of 77, was an all-around good guy.
“We were short of billets when I first came to Revelstoke, Tony and his wife Ila Mae stepped up,” said Parent. “I got to know Tony that way. He was a presence at our games. A quiet presence around the team. We always knew Tony was behind the team and wanted hockey to do well in Revelstoke.
“I think the whole hockey community in Revelstoke was really touched by Tony in a positive way,” he continued. “We’ve all been touched in a positive way by Tony and his influence here. Tony was a really caring guy and had a big heart about him.”
