Prince George OldTimers Hockey Association
|
|
|
|
A copy of this document is in the PGOHA trophy case at the Coliseum and was located by Bob Becott. It has been copied verbatim. It appears to be written either as a speech or to be included in a program when the Montreal Oldtimers played in Prince George during the 1983-1984 season.
History of the PGOHA by Bill Edwards, Past President and Corny Hughes, President, circa 1983-1984 "The PGOHA was formed five years ago in the summer of 1978 when three jocks, Bill Edwards, Corny Hughes and Rick Goulet got together over lunch to solve the question why no one would let us play on their hockey team. It was decided then and there that the solution was to form our own league. An instant election was held with Bill Edwards emerging as President, Rick Goulet as Secretary, and Corny Hughes as Treasurer (he had to pay for the lunch!). In September of that year an advertisement was placed in the local paper inviting those who were interested in forming an old-timers hockey league to attend an organization meeting. About 20 players attended the meeting. It was decided to attempt to form those teams. Those at the meeting began to recruit players. The response was overwhelming and we were up to full roster almost immediately despite the fact that there were only two ice times available and those were at 10:45 pm and 11:15 pm. Because of great demand the league expanded to our teams during the 1980 season and additional ice times were obtained. In 1982 there was a further expansion to five teams. The league now [1983] consists of some 70 players each playing a 50 game schedule. Ice times are at 10:15 pm on Sundays at the Coliseum. 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm on Tuesdays at the Coliseum, 9:00 pm on Wednesdays at Kin 1 ands 10:45 on Thursdays at Kin 1. Prior to the beginning of each season five new teams are selected. Players are classified as A, B, or C players, based on ability, and each team receives equal numbers of A, B, and C players selected at random thus ensuring an evenly balanced league. We feel that this player draw system is the ,main factor in the strengths of our organization as it mixes all members each year thereby promoting fellowship and putting competition on a friendly basis. Last year our teams travelled to oldtimer's hockey tournaments in Edmonton, Victoria, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Valemount, Hudson's Hope, Clearwater, Smithers, Vanderhoof, Terrace, Fort St John, Mackenzie, and Fort St. James. Plans have been finalized for a tournament in Pheonix, Arizona this year ands we are also exploring the possibility of playing a tournament in Europe. During the past four years we have had over 200 players pass through our ranks. Charter members of the league who are still playing include Tom Fairburn, Frank Speed, Bob Dick, Jack McEvoy, Harold Collum, Corny Hughes (President), Jim Middleton (Past President), Joe Ter Heide, John Outhet, Chubb Williams, Jim Thorne, Ian Meiklem, Don Bryce (Past President), Tony Endean, Len Zirnhelt, Adrian Tremblay, and Bill Edwards (Past President). Our Forth Annual Spring Tournament will be help this year on March 1984. As we have done each previous year we are again expanding. In the first year we had 16 teams, in the second year 20 teams, and in the third year, 24 teams. This year we are expecting 28 teams from places as diverse as Nipawin Saskatchewan and Victoria. Old timers hockey is restricted to players over 35 years of age. We are pleased to have the opportunity, along with over 200,000 other old timers in Canada, to pretend, twice a week, that we are still youngsters. We are also extremely privileged to have the opportunity just to be on the ice at the dame time as players of the calibre of Henri Richard of the Montreal OldTimers, when we played last year, and Andy Bathgate, Norm Ullman and all the other great names you are watching tonight." |
Send mail to
The President with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
