AJ Vincent Memorial Game

AJ VINCENT MEMORIAL ALUMNI HOCKEY GAME

            Andrew James (“AJ”) Vincent died on November 27, 2010, the Friday after Thanksgiving, in a car accident right in front of his house.  The accident was caused by a drunk and drugged driver, Mark Ralich, who was doing about 90 mph on Poplar Street, in Elyria.  The speed limit on Poplar St. is 25 mph.  Mr. Ralich was convicted of vehicular manslaughter, and it was determined that he was not only drunk, but there were also drugs in his system.  Of course, he was barely injured.  Since his release from prison, he has again been arrested for DUI.

            AJ had just turned 18 on August 8, 2010, and was the only son of Jean Vincent, and the only brother/sibling of Tonya Vincent.  He graduated from Elyria High School in May, 2010, and was just finishing his first semester at Lorain County Community College, where he planned to major in Criminal Science to become a police officer.

            AJ was a gifted athlete and excelled at many sports, including hockey, baseball and wrestling.  He also had so many friends that were impacted by his sudden and unnecessary death.  

            AJ had attended a Lake Erie Monsters hockey game on that fateful night.  He had stopped home before taking his friends to their homes.  Pat DeSouza, Cody Toboz and Mitch Johnson were passengers in his car.  Cody suffered minor injuries, but Pat and Mitch were seriously injured and it took months for them to recover.  Both of them still have lingering health issues due to the accident.  Cody and Pat, AJ’s best friends and former hockey teammates, are the captains of the opposing teams in this hockey game.  

            In order to keep AJ’s memory alive and to try to make something positive out of this horrible loss, his family has started the AJ Vincent Memorial Scholarship at Elyria Hockey.  AJ loved playing hockey and it was, at times, a financial hardship for his single mother, who nonetheless always made sure he was able to pay.  The scholarship is funded by donations and the Annual Alumni hockey game, where former players get back on the ice to raise funds for his scholarship.  We also have various raffles at the game as well.  This game is supported by the Elyria Police Dept. who provide their color guard at the beginning of the game, and the Elyria Fire Dept., whose members make a generous donation and attend the game as well, and the Elyria Parks and Rec Dept., who so generously allow us to use the ice.  There are also many who donate time or raffle items to help make this such a success.  

            So far, the scholarship fund has raised approximately $10,000, and has helped many families with the costs of playing ice hockey.  

            Every year the game is held in the winter time at North Rec Ice Rink on Duffy Street in Elyria.  Cost of admission is $5.00, children under 12 are free.