CALLER-TIMES INTERACTIVE: NEWS

Friday, Oct. 23, 1998

IceRays honor official killed in crash

Brower remembered for his love of hockey, kindness to others

By NOVELDA SOMMERS
Staff Writer

   Jersey No. 35, illuminated by a spotlight, was hoisted to the rafters of Memorial Coliseum in honor of a career hockey player who never got to play there.
   The jersey that Scott Brower would have worn when he left the IceRays support staff and made his planned return to the ice was retired in a ceremony before Thursday night's game against the Shreveport Mudbugs.
   Brower, 34, was killed early Wednesday when his car was struck head-on by a Chevrolet Blazer that was going the wrong way in the southbound lanes of JFK Causeway. The driver of the Blazer, Jose Luis Flores, 31, also was killed.
   IceRays General Manager James Garino couldn't finish the short speech he intended to give during the ceremony. Players who had said it would be difficult to go on the ice so soon after losing their friend stood facing the jersey.
   IceRays announcer Steven King encouraged the crowd to make noise and carry on "as our friend would want it."
   And the show went on.
   The crowd remained standing until the IceRays scored their first goal, and then the fans roared their approval.
   The IceRays followed that goal with nine more, beating the Mudbugs 10-6.
   The team will dedicate the 1998-99 season to Brower. Each team member will wear a black patch on his shoulder with Brower's initials and No. 35 in white letters.
   Brower's brother, Doug Brower, 35, said hockey was always his brother's passion. He would have wanted the fans and the players to pour their hearts into the game, just as Scott would have done, Doug Brower said.
   Scott's world revolved around hockey, he said. Scott, Doug and Randy Brower played together growing up in Canada. Scott was deeply focused on the game and achieved his dream of playing professionally.
   Since the accident, the Brower family has received condolences from friends Scott made all over the world, Doug Brower said.
   And the outpouring for him from friends and fans in Corpus Christi has been overwhelming, he said.
   "He loved this city," Doug Brower said. "I would like to make sure that everybody understands how thankful he would be."
   It's no surprise that his brother made so many friends during his 15 months here, Doug Brower said. He was the kind of guy who would do anything for friends and family, he added.
   He wanted to donate one of his kidneys to his brother Randy, 37, who has a kidney disease, and had undergone testing only to find out he was not a good match.
   Brower was a first-team all-star for the Memphis RiverKings of the Central Hockey League in 1995-96 before he retired as a goalie two years ago to help build the IceRays franchise.
   As director of ticketing, his triumphs included three sellouts in the team's first three home games. He was instrumental in selling a majority of the season tickets, IceRays officials said.
   Two of those ticket holders, Jeff and Shelly Garvin, said they will never forget Brower's kindness. He always treated them like friends, they said.
   "Scott was always easy to talk to," Shelly Garvin said. "He was a very good person."
   The Garvins made buttons for IceRays staff to wear. The buttons read: "In Memory of Scott Brower. You will be missed and remembered by all you have met."
   Staff writer Novelda Sommers can be reached at 886-3774 or by e-mail at sommersn@scripps.com

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