The Canadian Champion, Friday, November 24, 2006 - Al9 SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail sleblanc@haltonsearch.coi Hawks pay tribute to tireless volunteer He's the guy behind the scenes, the one who does ail those thankless , --rZý tss- every- thing lrom filling Inl th e water boules and taking care ol' the stands sticks to assisting the traîner and running thec dock Tonigbt, fi-l Gies - Milton junior hockeys ali-purpose utility man, as I like t0 think of hiin- gets bis just recogni- tion. To commernorate bis 3Orb year wîîti the local franchise, new owner Rick Heinz and the lcHawks will honour the seasoned volunteer wuth a special presentation prioi to their hoine-ce clash xiib the Street-svilie Derbys -- who fittingx aIl taes a teaelr rAliabe lîas gaoscte'ehn ounn the iso watigteobi.,tnihstiut sc ilht voure af rgar at emo1ial ren Erida hs, ictoure bouned the 2000/0 Hal -ha man i mayu k-nown s hei vouMers eflrîsexende oe niheonn local por circs lacrss team -a U ntîllat eon an w\ -c li cr e onaison Heis im tuf-u A lenae, bnd te Bifo Rnaein.a"r lcly asl ta weekns ane and foodmel deli very mt gr an se hyree n- Halton, here ahs on fte e lenswt adies iec hehlps oue ai regular elîvrile Fia igtyu budtlkn w Hal. it sontins eay t foe hes devel-i opng ally chlngd ut thes nor îkel tod frg e ic of lache tea -itr ove uthe ast threen dadesa - lineldng rans trin th llna t nime. so Rdn ayacfaiiy as Mr. Hockbrey,"r nfo Grant. r mHan robablycUvln' AtelhO ato time of day itr ibutiyuwnty toin kNoth Hanahasoe of atetinpae fo 2clyears wiag chae cncebl kpno l w ho yu'e nking oft Hes n enyl opgediau ofai nmofcranplayers past and present.canesar"h' GRAHAM PAIN N/ CANADIAN CHA PiON HAL 0F A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER: Hai Gies, whose numerous duties with the iceHawks include taking care of the jerseys wi!I be honoured prior 10 tonights game. And while Hai-s lîcen prone to getting a bit ot a liard tie fron the occasional player over the vears, hes, carniec those sanie guys' respect in the enud. Says Nadalin, "When it coriies to rîhhing. tlis one io gîve as good as he gets. When I hear froîîî îld teaîîîîîîates they ail want to know how HaI's doiîîg." That xvas definiîely e-vident ai lasi years aluînîîî gai-ne. "To a man, every player canie over ai soîne point durîng the nîght and saîd, 'Hey Hal, hows it goîng?' or'Good to sec you, Hal'," recaîls IceHawks' announcer Rob Wiseman, who looks back fondly on the help he received from bis now reg- ular lime box counterpart when he first started with thie club three years ago. 'Ive known Hal for years just being around the arena and always known lîim to bc quite tireless in bis efforts, but I neyer knew just how dedîcated he was until I started working witb the team. He just does everyîhing îbey ask him." Along with being one of the longesi serving volunteers in the Provincialjr. A I cagne, Hl cati be about as spirited] a fan as you'il find ai thîs level. And while occasionally ovei-'î il- ous, bis enthusiasm bas been known to be an emotional (.it alyst for both players and spectators alîke. "He wears bis heart on bis sîcve," says Grant. Over the past three decades. HaIs seen our local juniors operate under four dîflereni naines - going back to tlcii lime as the t-lyers - and go through far too many owncrs and coaches to name here. In an cra of junior hockey thats become a revolving door of faces, Hal remaîns one of the precîous few constants. "i'm a lixture here," remarks the beloved volunteer. So what keeps him coming back year in and year oui? 1I juat enjoy it. is something to do on a Fniday nighî. l've heen lucky to bc pari of the- tear-n. To say the hi-ast, the clubs been equally fortunate - il not more 50 - to have you around, Hal. This ix your niglit. Enjoy it. 71