By Ryan Brandt/CJME News Staff

SaskTel Centre Prepares For Gordie Howe Ceremony

Sep 19, 2016 | 1:18 PM

The Gordie Howe statue is one step closer to being a shrine to the hockey legend.

A construction crew completed the drilling of a hole at the foot of the statue outside SaskTel Centre, which will hold Howe’s ashes.

Rely Ex Construction donated the labour for the project.

“We were honoured to be a part of the team to do this,” said Rick Leier, who led the Monday morning project.

“We’re drilling the hole and installing a stainless vault that will house an urn and be filling it back in.” 

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A plaque will then go on top of the hole, which will seal in the vault and mark the site of Gordie and wife Colleen Howe’s remains.

An official ceremony with the Howe family will take place on Sunday when the ashes are placed and sealed.

The Saskatoon Blades say the urn will be safe inside the monument but could easily be removed if a downtown arena was ever built. 

“Provisions are in place for the ashes to me moved in the event a downtown arena is built should that be the people’s wishes,” said Steve Hogle, President of the Saskatoon Blades.

The Blades are hosting Thank You Mr. Hockey day on Sunday, ahead of their home opener against the Swift Current Broncos. 

Email rbrandt@rawlco.com

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