Vernon, B.C. B次元官网网址� Like at most reunions, the Vernon Tigers swapped stories, caught up with how the family was and snapped photos with joy.
The big difference with this weekend gathering was that many players from the three-time national Senior B lacrosse team were feeling extremely grateful to be alive.
The Tigers marked the 40th anniversary of their third-straight PresidentB次元官网网址檚 Cup, but the bigger story was how the 1976 group survived a plane crash into a farmerB次元官网网址檚 field near Pincher Creek, Alta. Sept. 8 on the way home from Winnipeg.
Barry Lapointe, the Kelowna Flightcraft pilot who pulled off an emergency crash-landing of a DC-3, saving all 26 passengers on the plane, received the most hugs and handshakes at the reunion, which attracted 62 players, wives and team staff.
B次元官网网址淭here were some rumours somebody was smoking in the washroom, but Barry said in his speech that a heater had overloaded and there was lots of smoke,B次元官网网址� said Marty Stein, who organized the reunion and had taken an earlier flight home. B次元官网网址�(Jeff Shirley) Spook told Barry there was smoke coming out of the washroom and he got all the players to the back of the plane. Alice Rintoul (Tiger Dale RintoulB次元官网网址檚 wife) maybe said it best when she said B次元官网网址業f it werenB次元官网网址檛 for this man (Lapointe), there would be no kids or grandkids for a lot of us.B次元官网网址�
Stein said Lapointe also cleared up just exactly where the plane, jazzed up with lounges, couches and poker tables, originated.
B次元官网网址淚t was an old plane and Barry said it was the only type that could have landed like that. Some guys thought it was Frank SinatraB次元官网网址檚 plane or Bing CrosbyB次元官网网址檚, but it actually was Conrad HiltonB次元官网网址檚.B次元官网网址�
Stein said captain Jamie McKenzie, a licensed pilot who joined team GM Wolfgang Gachter in calming the player and taking charge of the evacuation, also spoke Saturday night at the Vernon Golf & Country Club.
B次元官网网址淛amie talked about how inspiring our team was and he talked about things a lot of us had forgotten. He spoke for about 20 minutes and was just awesome.B次元官网网址�
A total of 21 Tigers purchased commemorative rings marking all three Canadian victories, the other two coming in Edmonton and Vernon.
B次元官网网址淥ur president Art Horsley did an incredible job for us,B次元官网网址� said Stein. B次元官网网址淲e, as athletes, we never knew what was going in with fundraising and behind-the-scenes stuff. B次元官网网址淒anny Holte and Rick (Horsley) bought Art a ring and he was so happy. That was a touching moment.B次元官网网址�
Stein said coverage of the plane crash in last FridayB次元官网网址檚 Morning Star was a history lesson for the younger Vernon generation.
B次元官网网址淚 talked to a lot of oldtimers and they, of course, remembered the story, but some of the guysB次元官网网址� kids hadnB次元官网网址檛 heard much about it. It was a big story at the time and is a big part of VernonB次元官网网址檚 sports history.B次元官网网址�
There were five groups golfing Saturday and Stein said there were no aces or stellar scores, B次元官网网址渏ust a lot of laughs and chuckles.B次元官网网址�
Added Stein: B次元官网网址淚t was 40 years since our B次元官网网址�78 team but it was like someone pressed pause and we just kept talking.B次元官网网址�
Stein plans to lobby the City of Vernon to raise a banner honouring the Tigers at Kal Tire Place.
sports@vernonmorningstar.com
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