Renaud honoured by Spitfires

The Windsor Spitfires paid tribute to Mickey Renaud on Thursday by retiring his #18 in front of 4,366 fans at Windsor Arena prior to the commencement of their home opening game for the 2008-2009 Ontario Hockey League season versus the Sarnia Sting.
Mickey’s parents Mark and Jane Renaud as well as members of the Renaud family joined the Spitfires ownership group of Bob Boughner, Warren Rychel, and Peter Dobrich, the event’s Master of Ceremonies Mark Knight, OHL Commissioner David Branch, Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis, Calgary Flames Scout and former Spitfires Head Coach Tom Webster and Buffalo Sabres defenseman and Spitfire alumnus Mike Weber to honour Mickey’s career and life in a special on-ice pre-game ceremony.
The ceremony featured speeches from Mark Knight, Bob Boughner, Eddie Francis and Mark Renaud, recounting the various accomplishments and achievements of Mickey’s as well as the effect he had on the Windsor Spitfires and the Windsor-area community. Additionally, Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis announced that the City of Windsor would create a road known as “Mickey Renaud Way”, a route which will lead fans to the newly created Windsor Family Credit Union (WFCU) Centre which will become the home of the Windsor Spitfires this coming December.
Following the conclusion of the speeches, the Windsor Spitfires ownership group and Mike Weber presented Mark and Jane Renaud with a miniature framed version of the banner to be raised at Windsor Arena.
Calgary Flames Scout Tom Webster and Spitfires forward and Calgary Flames draft pick Greg Nemisz then presented the Renaud family with a trust fund established for Mickey’s siblings Remy and Penny before Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis and the Spitfires ownership group presented the family with Mickey Renaud Way signs and unveiled a large street sign for the newly created road, similar to what will be placed on the route leading to the WFCU Centre.
The ceremony concluded as a No. 18 banner was raised to the Windsor Arena rafters, with Mickey’s smiling disposition featured on the banner, forever watching over his team-mates who so greatly respected him when he wore the “C” as a member of the Spitfires.
After the pre-game ceremonies, the Windsor Spitfires, ranked No.1 in the Canadian Hockey League for the past two weeks, played as an inspired unit and downed the Sarnia Sting 5-0, as the Spitfires improved their record to 3-0 for the season.