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aa sma ata TC -- NL ae PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, December 23, 1986 -- 5 a ae a a --_-- Cd Ladi A Vi e Wf P ® i Nn T by John B. McClelland THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME A couple of Sunday nights ago, a group of guys got together for a hockey a Btouporguyse As hockey goes, it wasn't much to write home about. There were no uniforms, no roaring crowds, no blasts from the ref's whistle, no time-keeper, not even a clock to tell how much time was left. . The guys just chipped in a few bucks each and rented the Scugog Arena from 11:00 o'clock to midnight. Sides were chosen, the puck was dropped and the game was underway. If by chance a visitor from Australia or southern California had wandered through the doors of the arena that night to witness hockey for the first time, he likely would have said to himself: "I can't figure out why Canadians get so excited about this sport." Any resemblance between our Sunday night game and the variety the pros play at Maple Leaf Gardens was purely a co-incidence. Several of the Sunday night gang had obviously been divorced from skates and stick for many years. Other struggled to rediscover skills they may have had at one time. A few (very few) skated, passed, shot the puck and carried it up the ice with an effortless, fluid grace; cutting sharply left and right, stopping on a dime, their blades throwing up a shower of ice crystals. The fact that it was being played at all is the im- portant thing. For those 15 guys, ranging in age from late teens to late 40's (early 50's?) ranging in physical condition from great to portly, were doing something that is uniquely and distinctly Canadian. The pick-up hockey game, whether played on some frozen slough in Manitoba, a backyard rink in northern Ontario, or a well-heated indoor arena in southern On- tario is part of the Canadian way of life. It is as much a part of our heritage and tradition as the Maple Leaf or a Group of Seven painting. In no other country in the world is hockey such a cornerstone of life than in Canada. Sure, at some levels, the game is maligned as be- ing too violent, over-organized and so on. But when an over-the-hill gang ge! together late on a Sunday night, lace up the skates an 1 just play for the fun of it, that is something that belongs to this country and nobody will ever take it away. I arrived at the arena a little late that night. The dressing room was humming with voices and laughter. There were jokes and more laughter. A few of the players fretted with the tape on their sticks, much the way Howe used to make sure the tape on his stick was "just right' before scoring a goal in a Stanley Cup final. A couple of the players took sustenance from a cool beverage that usually comes in a brown bottle. 'Is the Zamboni off yet?" somebody yelled. We trooped from the room to the ice surface, waiting for the Zamboni to make a final sweep, then stepped onto the ice amid shouts of '"let's go, let's go. Let's get 'em." Save for the players on the ice and four spectators, the building was deserted. It was quiet, ex- cept for the sounds of blades cutting in ice and pucks thwacking off the boards. The teams were picked (seven aside) and myself, who had volunteered to referee, whistled the players to centre ice for the face-off. The game was underway. I didn't have much work to do as the ref, except to retrieve the puck after a goal and drop it again at cen- tre ice. The off-sides and two line passes were just too numerous to call. There were no penalties either. "Dangei ous Dennis," who looked resplendent in a pair of skates right out of the 1958 Eaton's catalogue, broke up a rush just inside the blue line. "Nimble Neil," also in vintage skates of yesteryear, crashed heavily into the end boards, but was back on his feet quickly with a smile on his face. The pace at times was fast and furious. Faces red- dened from the exertion, muscles not accustomed to ex- ercise began to tighten up, players made their way to the bench to catch their Breath. "Dandy Dougie," took a pass in front and fired a shot to the corner for his hat trick. The silent crowd roared with approval. "Rompin' Rob," in better shape than most of the others, gathered up a loose puck deep in his own zone, carried it the length of the ice, only to have his shot sail wide of the corner. He banged the heel of his stick on the ice. "Tony the Terrible," just a few short years past his playing days as a Junior C, turned on the jets a couple of times, leaving the stragglers on wobbly ankles stan- ding still in their tracks. The referee (yours truly) who was supposed to be the neutral arbitrator, picked up a hockey stick, in- tercepted an errant pass and sent the puck to a skater in full stride, much to the chagrin of the other side. "Courageous Charlie," protecting his net, took a hard shop right on the shin. He said later he was glad he decided to wear pads under his sweat pants. (Tum to page 6) Yesterday's Memories 60 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 23, 1926 The following students are home in Port Perry for the Christmas holidays; Miss Isabel Lucas, Mr. Grant Rundle, Mr. Lewis McLean, Mr. John Brock and Mr. Alex Wood. Miss Valde Hortop was awarded at the Annual High School Com- mencement for passing into Port Perry High School without examina- tions, having the highest record on her year's work in the class. Special Farm Offer of 53 acres, 8 room house and large barn with 'shieds. $1,500 cash will buy it all. A.W. Morley Campbell, Real Estate. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 20, 1951 Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Taylor of Ethelton, Sask., are visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Taylor and other relatives in the Epsom area. Congratulations to Miss Florence McLaughlin, Toronto, on be- ing second in the Freelance Club, short story contest. The subject of her story was Madame LeChance. Miss McLaughlin attended Port Perry High School. A special thanks to Miss Ruby Wilsen who gave a talk on the Great White Gift of the first Xmas morning at Epsom Sunday School's White Gift Sunday. Miss Wilson also showed pictures taken in Africa while she was there as a missionary. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 21, 1961 Through the co-operation of the local Hydro system and the Port Perry Chamber of Commerce, a contest for the best electrically decorated home is underway. Port Perry upset Uxbridge "Black Hawks" 8-6 in overtime in an O.H.A. Lakeshore Intermediate game at the Community Memorial Arena this week. Gerry Robinson scored the eventual win- ning goal in overtime and Dean West counted an insurance marker into an open net. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 22, 1966 The need for a bigger hospital is intensified by the increase in population. The population in Scugog in 1953 (when the hospital was built) was only 1300 while now it is 3000, The population of Reach Township during the same time has risen from 2809 in 1953 to 3404 in 1966. Osmond Wright was elected to the one vacant seat on Cartwright Township Council in Monday's election. All other members of coun- cil were previously elected by acclamation. Helping Mr. H. Eagleson, Seagrave, to celebrate his 91st birth- day on Sunday, were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Tristram, their three sons and girl friends of two of the sons, Toronto; also Mrs. W.R. Tristram of Port Perry. 10 YEARS AGO Wednesday, December 22, 1976 There could still be a recount in Scugog Township as a result of the 1976 municipal elections earlier this month. Howard Hall, who lost the Area Councillor seat by only eight votes, said earlier this week that he has not ruled out going for a recount. There has been some confusion as to when Boxing Day should be celebrated this year. as it falls on a Sunday. Many stores and businesses throughout Scugog will be open on Monday as usual, but there are also a number who will be closed, to give their staff an ex- tra day off. (From page 3) In their front yard is a collage of Christmas figures including Frosty the Snowman, a family of carollers and Santa Claus on a moose. Diane Lackie wrote in her com- ments, '""....evidence of balance, har- mony and drama. A cheery encounter!" John B. McClelland wrote, "Outstanding overall effect! Truly unique." Val and Mike have been decorating their house since they moved in November 1984. They started with a stocking on the garage door and a few lights up the aerial, adding more each year. This year, Mike figures more than 800 lights are strung in and around the house. Appreciating the final effect is easy, but putting them up was another story all together. With the help of friend Todd Milton, and three solid days of work, the lights were carried over their backs up the tremendous height of the tower, not an easy task for a cou- ple of guys who aren't fond of heights. Each light had to be taped into Debbie and Mike Dell's beautifully decorated 'country' home, the winner of second "because Debbie is hoping to turn it Lights dazzle in the night position as well, to ensure they all faced in the right direction. Overall, it was cold, hard work, but Mike and Val say the final results are worth it. "I just love looking at it. The more you look, the more you see," Val says. "The town itself is one of the best decorated I've seen. Walking down street just makes you feel like Christmas." 'Last year we were late getting started," Mike adds. "And without all the decorations, it just didn't feel like Christmas." That's the way many of the win- ners feel. Debbie Dell and her hus- band Michael have lived at 193 Cochrane St. in Port Perry for nine" years and have always decorated in- side and out. "It's a tradition we've started," she says. "Each year we add a lit- tle more." The Dell home is designed to be "country elegant' with real cedar boughs, red ribbons, an outside Christmas tree complete with presents underneath, candles in every window, and pure, white lights on the trees outside. Even the patio is decorated, into a small skating rink! Stan Grills home, on the other (Turn page 9) Debbie Dell ner of McDonald in Port Perry. prize, is located at 193 Cochrane St., at the cor- TO St Gy RI