Dear CSBL Members,It is with heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of a dear CSBL brother. David Goyette, 61, of Scotia passed away
Saturday evening, December 28 at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York. Dave fought a courageous battle against a very aggressive form of cancer, and while his sudden death is a shock to all of us, it is a blessing that
he is now at peace. Dave faced this foe head-on and in so doing displayed the grit, tenacity and will that were the
hallmarks of his athletic and basketball career. As many of us in the CSBL witnessed Dave do remarkable things
in our league, from countless scoring records to regular season and tournament championships,
I’m sure many of us envisioned Dave beating back cancer as he had thwarted many competitors in front of him over the years.
The foe, however was too strong, even for one as mentally and physically battle-hardened as Dave. As a consummatecompetitor Dave know the odds and was up for the fight, and no doubt in death, as in life, Dave left it all on the court.
On behalf of the hundreds of teammates and opponents that Dave has played with in his twelve year career as a CSBL player,
sponsor and Board Member, I would like to say it was a joy to watch him play! He burst onto the CSBL scene as a 49
year old rooking in the 2007/2008 season playing for Keith Comstock and the Crossgates Banquet House team. In eighteen games
that regular season he averaged over 35 points per game and shot 82% from the free throw line. In his first five full
seasons in the league he averaged 34.3 ppg, won five scoring titles and a couple of regular season and tournament championships.
His rookie year, his team would win the regular season crown, however they would not win the tournament championship.
Instead he faced off against First National Bank of Scotia, Captain Joe Leva and their high-scoring leader, George Yund.
George was a seasoned veteran and tenacious competitor – a fitting foe for Dave. First National Bank utilized a box-and-one
against Dave all game, with defensive stalwart Murray Carr handling the defensive duties against Dave.
It still came down to a buzzer-beater at the end by George Yund, but in the end the Old Guard, George Yund would prevail,
thus making the New Guard, Dave Goyette, wait for a taste his first tournament championship. The next year, in 2009 Dave
lead his team, NE Orthopaedic, and the league with a regular season PPG of 30.9, however he again was the bridesmaid as his team
was defeated in the regular season and the tournament by a Latham ’76 Diner team that was lead by a trio of hot shot rookies named
Tom Ginnelly (18.8 ppg), Keith O’Neal (18.5 ppg) and Scott Franko (17.4 ppg). It was in Dave’s third season, his first as a league
sponsor with Thermal Environmental Sales (still a sponsor to this day!), and his first year hooking up with his long-time
Captain Rick DiBlasi, that Dave would win back to back Tourney and regular season titles. Dave became a perennial first overall
pick of the league with his all-around game – he was the best scorer in the league, the best defender in the league, and as someone
only 6’1” was the best jumperin the league. He could guard anyone, 1 through 5 and could score from anywhere on the court.
As players began to build formidable 3-on-3 teams to compete in State Senior Games Dave became a cornerstone of many
50-54 and 55-59 championship teams. Approach any league member who played with Dave in the CSBL or in state or national
tournament and you will hear countless stories of competitive excellence. I would be remiss if I did not also add how essential
Dave’s contributions to the league were off the court as well. Dave was a member of our Board of Directors for many years,
and helped me get my seas legs when I first came on the board.
Dave was a wellspring of knowledge regarding our CSBL bylaws and rules. His desire to see the league consistently rule
on matters of competition were a hallmark of his board tenure. I also had the pleasure, during my tenure as a Captain, to select
Dave with my number one pick in 2016. I learned more about the league and how to navigate a game in that one season than I had
in the five seasons prior because of Dave’s willingness to be the quiet, and sometimes not so quiet leader of our team.
His accomplishments on the court were made even more remarkable when you consider every opponent who stepped on the floor
against Dave saw it as a personal measure of their own worth how they played against Dave. Dave would always evoke every opponents
“best” effort, he would always draw the toughest defender, often times draw the double-team, and many more times than not
he would beat you! And if that were not enough he would do it with an ease on his face, and a smile and firm handshake for you after the game.
I attached a couple PDF files as a remembrance of Dave. One is a brief summary of Dave’s CSBL statistical exploits; the other is a
collage of some great pictures of Dave, on and off the court.
Dave’s family is preparing final arrangements and when these are made known I will forward the details to the league membership by way of another email.
May Dave eternally dwell in the abundant love of God. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this time.
Best Regards,
CSBL Commissione
