hockey. And at of giving it up. ( To TEE RE Ca Ri Ar GPR db * pg ial 28 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, January 24, 1989 That's a lot of cold mornings behind the players bench Fred's been coaching hockey for 33 years Fred Oxley has seen a lot of hockey players come and, 80 over the 33 , hat's how long he's been coaching at the minor hockey lev- el, first in Aurora, then Richmond Hill and for the last two decades or 80, in Port Perry. -- For 33 years, it was bitterly cold behind the Fred Oxley has been coaching minor age 70, he says he has no thoughts see story for a profile on Fred Oxley) Coming up on his 71st birth- day, one might assume that Fred is thinking about hanging up the old whistle. : But he has no such thoughts as he told the Star in an interview over the weekend. "I'll quit when they don't want = me anymore. I'm having a lot of fun doing this," he said with a twinkle in his eye. Besides, he has a five year old grandson who plays hockey, and in response to the obvious ques- tion, he said yes, it would be nice to coach him when the time comes. It's just before 8:30 on a bit- terly cold Saturday morning in January, and Fred, along with co- coach Tom Airey are preparing their Bantam House League team (Frank Real Estate) for a game with arch-rival Emmerson. The Scugog Arena is warmer than most rinks, but on this par- ticular morning, it is cold, very cold. In a few moments, Fred and Tom will leave the comparative warmth of the dressing room, trek across the ice surface and take their positions behind the players bench. It is something he has done countless times since the 1955-56 hockey season. But in the dressing room as the players on the Frank squad pull on their equipment, lace up the skates and chatter away the hockey players do, Fred goes into a quick pre-game talk. "Don't get frustrated out there. When you get frustrated, you wind up in the box and that hurts the team. Some of you forwards are going to have to double-shift on defense. But don't get frustrated." The pep talk over, Fred reach- es into his pocket and pulls out a pack of Juicy Fruit. "Gum, anybody?" he asks, and ten players, most of whom tower over Fred gather round for a stick of gum, Fred Oxley was born and raised in Britain. Though he was athletic as a youngster and active in cycling, cricket, soccer and swimming, he never played hock- ey, probably never saw a hockey game until he came to Canada to work for deHavilland aircraft in 1950. "I played a little shinny on the ponds in Richmond Hill, but nothing more than that," he re- calls. His three sons (now aged 29 to 46) all played hockey, and like most parents who get involved in coaching it was through his chil- dren that Fred first went behind the bench in 1955-56. One of his boys came from the rink and said "our coach quit players bench last Saturday morning, but Fred Oxley was there urging his team on, just as he has since 1955-56. Retire from coaching? No way, the 70-year old told the Star In a later interview. "I'm having too much fun." because the team is losing. Guess what, Dad, I told the team you'd take over coaching." « Fred's initial reaction to that was "Gee, thanks a lot." But he took over the team, en- joyed the experience and aside from one winter when he was ill, he's been behind the bench ever since,coaching all age groups from tykes to midget. On this cold Saturday morn- ing, the game between Frank and Emmerson gets underway, after a delay for team photos. It's a scene played out in hockey rinks across Canada on cold Saturday mornings as two arch-rivals clash. The game see- saws back and forth. One player comes off the ice griping about a call by the ref, and Fred just nods his head."Yes, yes. I know, I know," he says without taking his eyes off the play on the ice "Get in front of the net. Get in front of the net," he hollers as his team presses for a goal. "There wasn't anybody in front of the net this whole shift," he says to the guys on the bench. When one of his players takes a double minor, Fred shakes his head and says "I warned him about that. I warned him." With just nine skaters this game. Fred and Tom are constant- ly juggling their line combina- tions, and as hockey players do, a few are griping about the refs, the other team and the quick shifts. "Jeez, we just got on," says one over his shoulder when he takes his seat on the bench. Fred, no doubt, has heard that line more than once in 33 years. So why does Fred Oxley con- tinue to stand behind the bench. "I love working with kids. I enjoy coaching. I think it helps to . keep me young," he replies in his still strong British accent. Does he have a coaching phi- losophy? "I respect the kids. I'm honest with them. I like to see them win, sure, but that's not the most important thing. Having fun is." The game between Frank and Emmerson is running its course. Fred's team has a good chance to go ahead with a power play but the game ends in a 3-3 deadlock. Nothing is decided between these two rivals this morning. "We should have beat these guys," growls one burly player as the buzzer sounds. In the dressing room after- wards as the players peel off their sweaters and pads, Fred, as he usu- ut cans of pop from a grocery ag Jul does, walks around passing Fred hasn't been on skates for several years (doctor's orders) so Tom Airey handles the practises. By his own admission, he can be outspoken on hockey matters. "If I have something to say, I say it, and not behind somebody's back. When the Minor Hockey or- ganization holds its general meet- ing in the spring, Fred's there and he almost always has something to say. Like most coaches, he's had "differences of opinion" with the executive, but he was delighted a couple of seasons ago when the Port Perry organization presented him with a plaque in recognition of his many years in coaching. And he has had some memora- ble expericnce+ behind the bench, Once in Richmond Hill he recalls a game. There was a stop in the play and Fred turned his back to talk to the players on the bench when he felt a tap on the shoulder. It was the ref and he said to Fred: "If you don't get that woman off the ice, you forfeit the game." It seems that the woman was $0 upset when a penalty was called against her son, she jumped ons the ice and "scolded" the offi- cial. "I eventually got her calmed down and the game went on." Fred recalls with laugh. Of course many players Fred coached are adults now with chil- dren, and they still stop him on the street to talk hockey for mo- ment or two. Fred remembers once incident not too long ago when he was in a store and a guy came up to him and said "Hi, Fred. How are things going?" "I didn't recognize him, so my son went over to him and said 'who are you, my Dad wants to know." He replied: "I was the MVP on your 1957 team, remember?" "Sure 'I do," Fred replied. "And you know what? I still have those cuff links the team present- ed to me after the season." It's small incidents like that which make all the cold Saturday mornings worthwhile for Fred. He admits the game has changed, the players have changed over the past 33 years. If there is one thing about coaching he doesn't like, it's the locker room language. "I've heard all the words, I know them all, but I don't like the bad language." As for his own British accent, an accent not often heard among minor hockey coaches in Canada, Fred says simply "I tell the guys this is how I talk. I'm not going to change. Sorry. Only one player ever gave me a hard time over my accent." Coaches who work with youngsters, be it hockey, base- all, soccer or any sport, have to be a special type of individual. The demands on one's time and family are considerable. Dis- agreements with parents, officials and executive are inevitable, they come with the territory. After 33 years, Fred says quite candidly, "I love coaching. I still believe it's not so much win or lose, but how the game is played, and for sure, it's keeping me young." Obviously, this septuagenari- an with the military-style mus- tache, twinkling eyes, and soft, almost lilting way of speaking, has given a lot to a lot of young people over the years. But he's taken something back: enjoyment, even when it is bitterly cold on a Saturday morn- ing in January behind the players bench at the local arena. We Deliver The NEWS Keep yourself informed sous SV ----