You had to be 80+ to get in this game

“Here comes Grandpa!” may not be something you’d expect to hear a father say to his son at the rink as he points to a six-foot hockey player hurtling towards the boards in pursuit of the puck.

But in a spirited series of matches held at the Appleby Ice Centre in October, these types of comments peppered the spectator area as every player on the ice – and the referee too – was over 80 years of age.

The three games were held as part of an induction ceremony that named 32 men – including six from Burlington – to the 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame. Players travelled from around Canada and from the United States to play with and against their fellow octogenarians in a joyous celebration of longevity in our nation’s favourite sport.

The six Burlington men honoured this year were Peter Austin, Dave Trumbell, Dale McKeown, Bill Leithead, Bob Grenier and referee Bob Pring.

The 80+ Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 2011 with the goal of formally recognizing both active recreational players in their 80s and those involved in growing and supporting the community of senior players, called “builders” by the organizers.

While its founder Maurice Marchand was not able to make the trip to Burlington, some of his fellow directors were on hand to oversee the games and a formal ceremony at the Art Galley of Burlington in honour of the long-time players.

“Mo wanted to recognize the iron men of hockey, people playing hockey at the age of 80 and over,” treasurer Raymond Chauvet said of Marchand’s inspiration for the Hall of Fame. “It is quite an accomplishment (to still be playing). So, he thought these people should be recognized not only by their fellow players but also by their families.

"A second objective was for these people to serve as role models, to encourage younger players – let’s say 70 year-olds or even 60 year-olds – to keep on playing. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is like a little reward.”

In the past, induction events were held annually in either Ottawa or Gatineau, director Loris Bondio added, but the 80+ Hall of Fame always wanted to go coast to coast. After losing a few years to Covid, this year it was able to hold events in Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia as well as Burlington.

Past events have seen family members travel from Taiwan and Australia to see their relatives honoured. “You see the look on the families' faces and realize how proud they are of a grandfather or whoever is still active and being recognized,” said Chauvet. “It becomes so important for the families.”

To date, 277 people have been inducted including 32 “builders”.

Inductees who spoke with BurlingtonToday said they were delighted to be honoured for the sport they have enjoyed for seven decades.

“I play defence in the (Burlington Oldtimers) league but they have me playing forward in the game this afternoon,” said Bill Leithead, who started playing in 1952. “I always played forward or centre but as you get older you slow down a bit.”

As he hit 80 this year, his Oldtimers teammates nominated him for the Hall of Fame. “I considered it an honour,” he said. “This over 80s has been going now for 10 years and it’s growing as more and more people across the country get to know it exists. I think about all the guys I played down through the years. Few got to be 80 or they got injured, so I take it as an honour. Here I am and, fortunately, I still have my health and I am still able to play.”

Teammate Dale McKeown said he started out playing pond hockey at age 8 and never lost his thrill for the game. His family don’t routinely attend his Burlington Oldtimers matches, however.

“They may show up today,” he said. “They don’t show up every time. My wife will be here today and I suspect this is the first time in five years.”

The 80+ Hall of Famers still carry themselves as the athletes they are and many look far younger than their chronological ages, but they must balance their health with their love of the game.

Eighty-three year-old Neil Donaldson, another Burlington Oldtimer inducted into the 80+ Hall of Fame in 2019, was sitting out the games this year after suffering a heart attack.

Watching his inductee comrades on Team Canada battle to a 4-3 win over Team USA, he said he hopes to get back to playing again. “I still get out and skate,” he said.

But three years ago, he collapsed while playing. “I just could not get my breath,” he said. He was fortunate that there was a doctor also playing at the time.

“The guys on the ice brought me back," he said. "It’s good to have friends.”