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Remembering Ricky 

Football player honoured with memorial at home opener

By Anna Sarkissian

Before the coin toss, before the handshake and before the kickoff, 3 000 fans at the Stingers home opener against the Montréal Carabins rose to their feet to remember fallen linebacker Ricky Zieba.

“Today, Ricky’s family and teammates gather to honour him,” the announcer said over the loudspeaker as several members of the football team embraced Ricky’s family on the field. His parents Richard and Nikki and brother Jason clutched a framed number nine jersey on the field and bowed their heads during the moment of silence.

Zieba, who was tragically killed in a car accident in June, turned to football to help mourn the death of his girlfriend, his father said.

“It was the only way he could get over his grief. This was his second family,” Nikki Zieba said, wearing a “9” pendant around her neck.

“It’s really important for us that the whole team is going to benefit from this,” she said, alluding to the contributions that have been pouring in. In lieu of flowers, the family asked mourners to donate money to the football team.

Over a dozen of Ricky’s friends grouped together to participate in the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation’s Sinai Car Rally to drum up even more support. Concordia alumna Ashley Levitt helped spearhead the initiative called Project Zieba that saw
$7 962.50 raised for the Stingers.

Levitt stood with the Ziebas and Wendy Corn of the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation to present the cheque to head coach Gerry McGrath.

For more information about donating money to the team in Ricky’s name, please contact the Advancement office at ext. 3884.