Photo Credit: Mick Lite Photography
In a game always filled with passion and emotion, Saturday’s game tugged at the heart strings. It was the Todd Ewen Memorial Hockey Game. The stands were filled with St. Louis Blues Alumni, SLU Hockey Alumni, and Ewen’s family 
and friends. Ewen, a former Blue and Coach of the Billikens passed away earlier this year. He was only 49.
The Saskatoon, SK, Canadian native was originally drafted in the eight round (168th overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Level Draft by Edmonton. However, on October 15th, 1986, St. Louis Blues General Manager Ron Caron, acquired Ewen, who would earn the nickname “The Animal” for his 6′ 3” 230 lbs stature from the Oilers in exchange for prospect Shawn Evans, who had a career total of nine NHL games. Safe to say, the Blues got a steal.
Caron was also known for acquiring Phil Housley, Basil McRae, Adam Oates, Perry Turnbull, and Brett Hull during his tenure. However, the man responsible for bringing Ewen to Saint Louis, was also the man responsible for his departure. Caron dealt Ewen to the Montreal Canadians on December 12th, 1989 for ‘future considerations.’ It ended up being the 1991 3rd round pick (#65-Nathan LaFayette).
After Ewen’s NHL playing career came to a conclusion with the San Jose Sharks in 1997, he joined the Sharks Management team for one season in 1998. He then came home and was hired by the St. Louis Billikens.
Ewen’s tenure with the Billikens was the peak of their play since the late 2000’s. He was the sole party responsible in bringing the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) Division II tournament to Saint Louis in 2013. Ewen was quoted saying, “The way I look at, 98% of the kids in the United States will end up playing in the ACHA because there are not enough jobs in the Major Junior leagues or the NCAA for players. That’s why I fought for the Division II Championship Tournament to come here – the amount of national champions we have had out of St. Louis is absolutely staggering. I put a lot of that success on my Alumni brothers here who have worked with the Junior Blues; they have really developed some great players.” -courtesy of Andrew Rodger at nhlalumni.org
The Billikens honored Ewen Saturday November 21st during their game against cross-state rival Missouri State. The Billikens shined during their game, finishing with a final score of 7-3. Before the game, there was a ceremonial puck drop, with Billikens Captian Niall Caparon and
Missouri State Captain Troy Korte.The puck was dropped by Ewen’s oldest son.
Sophomore Alex Smith started off the game by scoring within the first three minutes with a beautiful backhand goal over the shoulder on the short side. Smith’s goal was followed up by Junior Isaac Rider scoring the next two, leading the Bills to a 3-1 lead heading into the first period.
During the first intermission the Billikens honored Ewen by giving his wife, Kelli Ewen, a framed Jersey of Ewen’s Billikens jersey dawning his favorite number, 36.
The second period was filled with lots of back and forth play from both the Bears and the Billikens. Niall Caparon scoring a pair of goals from Rider, and Adam Dettenmeir respectively. The Billikens held a lead of 5-3 heading into the final period.
The second intermission was also dedicated to Ewen, showing a video created by Rene Knott of KSDK News Channel 5. Video can be found here.
The third period consisted of Dettenmeir scoring early in the third from a beautiful feed by Caparon, and Smith. Then, junior forward and Chicago native Michael Wiacek put the dagger in the Bears by scoring on a wrist shot from James Colestock late in the third. The Billikens ended the game by the score of 7-3.
In the spirit of Ewen and Thanksgiving, the Billikens coaching and box office staff organized a Pot-Luck after the game, inviting Ewen’s family, all of the players and their families, and fans that attended the game. Billikens season ticket holder Richard Wishon tweeted out
“@OshieLab74: I want to thank @SLUiceBillikens players and their parents for welcoming Barb & me to their Thanksgiving dinner tonite! Barb & I wish the @SLUiceBillikens organization a Happy 
Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and a safe New Year! The whole @SLUiceBillikens organization is very classy and we feel honored to be included in the meal. Thank you very much.” (Tweets are combined)
Todd Ewen may have left us, but his spirit lives on in the Blues family, the Billikens family, and the St. Louis community. For more details on the game, you can follow the SLU Billikens twitter account @SLUIceBillikens.
