The original four goalkeepers for our league were Dwayne van Snick, Ken Webb, Ted Graves and Dick Doubleday. Tragically, Dick never got to play a game and passed away shortly after the league's debut. Needing to find a replacement in a hurry, the league founders approached me in full awareness of my "tender" age. I truthfully admitted that I was "only" 41 at the time but they replied that I usually played as if I were twice that age and accepted me! Agreeing to play was one of the wisest decisions of my life. After seven full seasons in the league, my status as the league's youngest player is only now being challenged!(they grandfathered those of us who were not 50 at the time of the decision to raise the minimum age was made)

I will never, ever, forget my first night in the league. A vicious case of bronchitis and my wife's entreaties to "be sensible" were not about to stop me. I arrived in the dressing room to find that an old team mate from the over 35 league, Ed Sweet, was already there. Former opponents from that same league including Lloyd McRae, Bill Macinnis and Rennie Smith were also now on my team. They proudly handed me a blue jersey labelled "Backhoes" and we stepped on the ice to do battle against the gold sweatered "Loaders" in the very first St. Margaret's Master's Hockey League game. The "Loaders" counted Dwayne van Snick and former team mates Paul Kennedy and Wayne Hughes amongst their ranks (tragically, we lost Wayne a few years ago).

I remember both teams put on a great show that night. It was a pity there were not more fans. The lead changed hands several times but we prevailed...7-5 I seem to recall. New team mate Bill Simpson demonstrated Jean Beliveau like play making and huge defenceman Dr. Dave Gardner was as nimble on his feet as Katerina Witt (but without the hair!). Current colleague Stan Lowther used his bull strength in the corners while Lloyd McRae played his chin music in his shots at "Curlie" (Dwayne van Snick that is). Dave Roberts, Richard Doull, Ben Dempsey (now also playing on the big pond in the sky), Mel Brownell and Frank ?? from Liverpool protected our lead and we prevailed. Bronchitis notwithstanding, I cannot recall a happier evening in my life!

After that first night, we won and lost our share of games. I recall that a lot of those losses came while Bill Simpson was recuperating from a broken collar bone. The next year, 1995-96, I changed colours to red and became a "Dozer". I was a "Backhoe" again in 96-97, and then donned the white sweater of the "Trucks" for 97-98. Next,I was a "Dozer" again and proudly wore the red of my two favourite teams (the Detroit Red Wings and the Russians!) for three straight seasons beginning in 1998 and finally became a "Loader" for the first time this fall.

I have continued to play with former team mates and opponents from my over 35 days not to mention numerous newer acquaintances. Old rivalries are long forgotten. Our league has a policy of drafting fresh teams each fall and statistically speaking, if there is a one in four chance I would play with a previous teamate in a given year, then I have been around long enough to have played with most everyone in the league (I was drinking rum when I wrote this so it is best I not attempt the math!)Thanks to all for some fond memories as well as for many that are yet to come...but if you have the puck one on one against me ...you had better take your best shot...I'll do my best to stuff you!

Bryan Wood