Making sense of the unsensible: CBC seeks to continue winning tradition after Brown tragedy

Ryan Trenz is trying to make sense of the unsensible.

The first-year CBC hockey coach has been tasked with leading his team, his school and an entire community through grief and mourning after junior Colin Brown was shot by a stray bullet while riding home with his father from a game Nov. 23. The 16-year-old died four days later.

“Not only was he doing nothing wrong, but he was doing things right,” Trenz said. “It's so outrageous. It's hard to wrap your mind around it. How random and senseless and just how horrible it is.”

The nature of the crime has brought widespread attention. Brown was riding home on northbound I-55 in downtown St. Louis when police say a bullet from a rolling gun battle on the southbound lanes hit him.

Police are still looking for the shooter.

The St. Louis area hockey community has rallied around CBC and the Brown family. There have been numerous vigils, fundraisers and gestures honoring Colin’s memory. The Blues honored Colin at their game Nov. 30.

“I'm super appreciative of the support,” Trenz said. “There's not enough thanks to go around for everyone, from CBC hockey, from our school, from around Mid-States, teams reaching out, coaches reaching out. It's been amazing to see the support, but you hate to see it come to light in this type of situation.”

While the news media focuses on the sensational nature of the crime and the hockey community shows its support, Trenz still has a group of teenage boys — many of whom are dealing with grief and loss for the first time — to lead on the ice in the toughest division of the Mid-States Club Hockey Association.

CBC returned to the ice Nov. 30 for the first time since Brown’s death and dropped a 4-0 decision to De Smet, the defending Mid-States Challenge Cup champion.

“In this situation, the result is really not important,” Trenz said. “We've talked about it, one small step forward, you know, back to a little bit of normalcy, which is what I think they need. And, you know, we knew that Colin would want us to be back on the ice.”

The Cadets followed that setback with a 2-0 victory against Marquette, improving to 4-3-2 this season.

Even before the Brown tragedy, Trenz had a spotlight on him heading into this season — although in a much more trivial sense.

Trenz, 32, replaced John Jost, who retired after 26 years at the helm.

Jost is the most successful coach in Mid States Club Hockey Association history. Under his leadership, the Cadets compiled an 803-99-50 record, won 13 Mid States championships, 21 Metro/Municipal division championships and entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed 21 times.

It was Jost who approached Trenz about replacing him. Trenz spent last season as an assistant on varsity to help create a smooth transition.

“From my end, there was never really any hesitation,” Trenz said. “It seemed like a good fit for me and the other guys as well.”

Trenz and his staff know the tradition — and expectations — that come with the CBC program. Trenz (class of 2010) and his assistants Eric Aldag (2010), Blake Ryan (2010) and Tyler Polizzi (2009) all won state championships wearing the CBC sweater.

“We definitely have that to lean on,” Trenz said. “It's definitely something that we're aware of. The tradition, of course, has been that way even before we got there, you know, since the beginning. And that's something that you're aware of then as a player, and certainly now.”

Trenz and his staff have inherited a young but talented roster as CBC has just four seniors.

Karson Price provides senior leadership as well as a classic 200-foot game as a forward. Joey Mullen leads a large junior class and can provide offense from the blue line. Chase Blanchard and Jace Jordan will be counted on to spark the offense.

Gavin Arnold and Vincent Majino will split goaltending duties.

“Everybody's got a role, and we depend, from top to bottom, on every single person in the room,” Trenz said.

The new staff had already gained the trust of the CBC players before the Brown tragedy.

“Love these coaches,” junior Chase Blanchard said after a game earlier this season. “They bring a lot to the table. They really know what they're doing. They have us ready to go every single game.”

The bond has grown even stronger now.

“It's been really hard on all of us, and nobody should have to go through this,” Trenz said. “And then, you know, as our team goes, 15-, 16-, 17-year-olds, most, if not all of them, have not had to deal with any type of death, and this being what it is, one of their buddies, their teammate, their classmate. It's been hard for me, I can't imagine what's going through their minds. They're emotional, obviously, and we've tried to as much as we can be there for them, and they've been there for us, too, honestly.

“I think the main message that we've been trying to get across to them is that, you know, we are in this together, and that we need to stick together. And they have stuck together. They've been supporting each other and it's been good to see that.”

Trenz coached a handful of CBC’s players for Affton before they were in high school. That group included Brown.

Trenz will never forget the strength and support the Brown family showed as the coaches and players came to the hospital to say goodbye when it was clear that Colin wouldn’t make it.

“I can't imagine what they were going through, what they are going through, and what they're going to go through, it's going to live with them, obviously, for the rest of their lives,” Trenz said. “But you know the fact that we were up there to say our goodbyes to their 16-year-old son, and they were the ones that were telling stories and really just making the whole thing, as horrible as it was, they made it a little bit easier.”

Brown’s legacy will live on. He was an organ donor and Trenz said he directly saved four lives.

Now, CBC will have to find a way to move forward.

“As cruel and unfair as this is, you know, the world keeps turning, and it's with a different perspective,” Trenz said. “We're never going to forget Colin or the impact that he had, but we've got to move on. And you know, we're trying to do that. I think being on the ice helps, having a little bit of that normalcy back helps. We'll never forget him, but each day is a new day, and, you know, just trying to put one foot in front of the other and carry on.”