'Long live Connor Dunn': Ceremony honouring crash victims planned for football games

The first Sault Sabercats home games of the season will be marked with a very special ceremony in honour of the two teenage victims of a motor-vehicle collision in March.

"In Sault Ste. Marie, the sports community is incredibly close-knit, with families deeply connected through shared experiences on and off the field," said William Basawa, coach of the junior varsity Sabercats football team.

"These relationships extend beyond the athletes, creating lasting connections among families, coaches, and the broader community."

Police said fifteen-year-olds Connor Dunn and Lukis Joy-Stoycheff were on an e-bike when it was hit by a pick-up truck on Goulais Avenue at about 1 a.m. on April 20. Both teens were rushed to hospital.  

Dunn was later pronounced dead and Joy-Stoycheff was treated for serious injuries in the intensive care unit.

"These young men played a multitude of sports and were also regular high school students. Tragedy affects everyone either first hand or second hand. You are either a close friend to that situation or you have a friend who is," Basawa said.

In 2024, Joy-Stoycheff played his first year as a junior varsity Sabercat and was expected to return this season, before injuries from the collision put his future on the field in limbo.

The alleged driver, 18-year-old Gregory Parise, faces a long list of charges, including impaired driving causing death and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death. None of the allegations have been tested in court and Parise is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The ceremony is scheduled for this Saturday, just prior to the 3 p.m. junior varsity game at Rocky DiPietro Field. It will include a short speech, a moment of silence and a donation presentation.

Basawa said it is important for members of the community to stand together and reflect on the tragedy.

"It boils down to creating a true understanding for everyone. A person who doesn't understand the past won't succeed in the future. Voices need to be heard, talks need to be had, a vivid picture needs to be created," he said.

Joy-Stoycheff has returned to school while recovering from his injuries and is expected to be present at the ceremony, his sister confirms.

Parents of junior varsity players will assemble on Thursday to place two stickers on the helmets of their children and collect voluntary donations to benefit both families. The stickers will be applied to varsity Sabercats helmets on the morning before Saturday's game.

One sticker is red and white and says 'LLCD' (Long live Connor Dunn) with his number 19 and angel wings, with the years 2009-2025. The second sticker says 'Lukis Strong play through the pain' in yellow and blue.

"So many of the junior varsity players were deeply affected by this tragedy, being either friends with Connor or Lukis or both boys," said Vicki Bailey, one of the player parents organizing the tribute.

"It was just natural to do something as a team to honour Connor and to show support for Lukis and his family."

The remaining stickers will be made available by donation during a sold out fundraiser scheduled following Saturday's varsity game.

A roadside memorial at the site of the collision began in the days after the incident.