Hockey

Some recollections;

Minor Hockey teams were most prevalent in the 1970's. There was a team (boys only back then) in every age group and an active senior team. Participation has waned in the years following with a few more active years - depending on parent enthusiasm. CONTACT US if you have photos (with names please) to include here.

Gray Golden Blades recruited in 1973 to start a senior team. Early roster included; Bill and Cal Carnegie, Ray Carnegie, Carl Gillis, Dave Helstrom, Greg Kelly, Bob Lewis, Bill Phillips and goal Fred Yeo Sr. The youngsters were Curt Lafoy, Les Reiter and Ken Bechard.
The first league designated was the 6 Star Hockey League - referencing six teams; Gray, Avonlea, Milestone Merchants, Truax and Yellow Grass. This was a recreational/no contact league that shouldn't have resulted in a fiasco with Yellow Grass. Dean Boesch and Norton Frei were reffing and things got very out of hand with visiting Yellow Grass being 'unsportsmanlike' (not the term used to describe the aggressive play). Next year the 5-Star Hockey League was formed - no Yellow Grass.
Players seem to recall a lot of road trips that involved a lot of fun and frivolity but resulted in very few wins (if any). Turns out the bus trip there seemed to take a lot out of them (maybe because of what they were consuming en route). Lethbridge (thanks to Armand Thompson's Molson Brewery contributions to keep the players hydrated during the long drive ended up getting the hotel manager fired. Minot didn't fare as well when they ventured up to Gray (once again, blaming the commute). Williston was another destination. Get in the game Bueche.
Ken Bueche was involved in an entertaining line change. He realized it was his turn to get off the ice. In order not to waste time skating across to the bench, he leapt over the boards on the opposite side of the ice (into the gravel). Too bad the bench didn't notice the ploy - so, Ken had to get back into the play and return to the player's bench side of the rink.

Screaming O's were founded in the early 1980's when Rich Collacott moved to Gray. More road trips. On a Minot trip Ken Bechard (to pay homage to the Slapshot movie) - went one lap in just his jockstrap - for money.