First day of spring according to the calendar and not according to the weather outside. That's okay, I have almost two months of hockey left before summer break. Three days ago, I had my first slow pitch meeting to make plans for the summer season. I have also made one trip to the golf dome to practice for another incredible summer of under performing on the links. Linda and I have also been playing pickle ball every week. Linda is getting better and I am blissfully happy with mediocrity on the Pickleball court.
Staying on the sports theme...I have been wanting to write about my hockey league and the connection to my home town. As you may know, Kelvington has a sign beside the south entrance declaring Kelvington as "Canada's Hockey Factory". Amazingly, there are about six native sons who played hockey in the NHL, most notably Wendel Clark who was a number one draft pick and Joey Kocur who won a Stanley Cup as a Detroit Red Wing. I was in the same grade as Barry Melrose who not only played in the NHL, but also had successful careers as a coach and hockey analyst.
I played hockey in Kelvington at the old metal roofed rink in Kelvington. In the recesses of my memory, I recall playing "Tom Thumb", pee wee, bantam, and midget. My grade six teacher, Ken Van Os, was a real hockey guy. He organized a pee wee league in Kelvington and I think we had at least four teams in house. Although I didn't make the cut for the travelling team who competed in the Mallard Hockey League and the Weyburn Invitational Tournament, I loved hockey. Winters in Kelvington were exciting because our senior team, The Kelvington Wheat Kings, were a dominant team in the Fishing Lake Hockey League. Wendel Clark's dad, Les, was a legendary player/coach who taught the local boys how to play the game.
My hockey playing days in Kelvington ended in midget when I took a skate blade to my nether regions and spent a week in hospital with internal bleeding. In my university days, I didn't play hockey, but I coached a bantam team in Saskatoon. When I started teaching, I played a handful of games in "farmer hockey" down in Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan. Then I didn't play ice hockey for 33 years because I was busy being a husband, father, youth group leader, teacher, board member, teacher, principal, son to aging parents, coach, etc.
When I retired from teaching, I fulfilled a lifetime dream of playing ice hockey again. I bought all new equipment and joined a team in the Saskatoon Plus 50 League. Playing in a 50 plus league was like drinking from a fire hose. I wasn't a good player when I was 18 and taking a 33 year hiatus didn't help. I played third line centre and did not get a lot of ice time. I played in the 50 plus league until I turned 60, then I moved to the Saskatoon 60 Plus League.
The league plays out of the Schroh Arena on the south side of Saskatoon. There are over 300 players in the league playing in 4 different divisions based on ability. Players sign up to play in monthly blocks, then they are assigned to a line with three forwards and two defenceman. Many of the players take holidays during the winter so they may only sign up for a month in the fall and a month in the spring, for instance. Some players play from September to the end of April. Lines are reassigned at least four times over the season; therefore, players have the opportunity to play with different people within their division. Two lines of five players play against two other lines of five. Goalies are assigned on a separate schedule. All players must ref at least two games per year.
The league emphasizes fun, fitness, and fellowship. Aggressive, chippy play is discouraged and, in general bad behaviour on the ice is very rare. Furthermore, reshuffling the lines multiple times allows all players to meet new people and make new friends. Most of the players are retired and some are widowed so coming to the rink is an excellent opportunity for fellowship and connection. After the games, many players have a pop, a wobbly pop, or a near beer and swap tales of their glory days.
There are nearly 40 eighty year olds that are still playing. In fact, we have three players that are in their nineties. Our league is a well run league that is probably the largest 60 plus league in Canada, if not the world.
A source of pride for me is the fact that there are at least 6 players from Kelvington in the league. Daryl Gillings, Trevor Sonstelie, Greg Gowda, and Murray Gronsdahl are in the top division. Bruce Leech and I are in the next division.
I never knew I would still be playing hockey when I was 70. God willing, it is possible I have another 20 years to go. Good thing I just bought a new pair of skates.
In other news:
1. Linda and I had a wonderful time in Mexico during February. We got out one day before the cartels shut down Puerto Vallarta. We stayed in the same town as last year, San Pancho. Our friends, Ken and Gwen Dueck were also there as were Dale and Trish Tallon. Linda and I had the chance to play several games of pickle ball and we worked out the leg muscles daily on the steep hills leading to our Airbnb. There were a few days when we ventured to other towns in the area by hopping on the local chicken buses. One day, we went to La Panita to visit Bill and Myra Clarke. Another day, we went swimming at Lo Demarcos. On two occasions, we traveled to Bucerias to visit our Greig and Brenda Cooper as well as some pickle ball friends and friends from the European boat and bike trip we took in the fall.
2. Mary performed in the musical, "Mama Mia" last weekend with Fireside Singers. Amazing local talent. Linda and I did a lot of Grandparenting leading up to Mama Mia. It was great spending time with Pumpkin Head and The Bug.
3. Luvisa was in a Ukrainian dance competition in Regina this weekend. She came home with 3 golds and a silver.
Time to wrap up this blog edition. Until next time, think of visiting or phoning those people you haven't connected with in a long time. Think of those that might be lonely and in need of a little sunshine in their life. Don't wait for a convenient time. Take the time.
