ItB次元官网网址檚 2023 and, just like 45 years ago, a familiar face is on the ice at Kal Tire Place.
Wayne McGrath, who is turning 80 this April, has played for the Vernon Moonshiners team since its inception in 1978.
B次元官网网址淪ince the team was formed (in 1978), IB次元官网网址檝e played pretty much every year,B次元官网网址� remarked McGrath, fresh off the ice after another hour-long game.
B次元官网网址淚 moved to Vernon in 1974 and it started when one guy asked me if I wanted to play hockey and I said sure.B次元官网网址�
Wayne also plays with his son, Gord (named after NHL legend Gordie Howe), who is 52 and a former high level junior hockey player. Gord joined his father on the team 17 years ago.
B次元官网网址淭his is my 49th year, but IB次元官网网址檝e missed three years, one from COVID and one from cataracts,B次元官网网址� McGrath said.
B次元官网网址淚 have been pretty fortunate, to be able to play for 70 years. ItB次元官网网址檚 great, keeps you in physical shape and great for your cardiovascular health.B次元官网网址�
McGrath also plays on Wednesday nights with another group, where he has been playing for 50 years.
The soon to be 80-year-old has been a staple in the Vernon community, as he is the longest serving mayor in the townB次元官网网址檚 history, from 1990-99. He was also the Conservative party president for B.C. for a number of years.
He also played with the RCMP team on Fridays for 25 years.
B次元官网网址淎s a Mayor, they wanted me to come out and play with them and it provided real opportunity to play with guys like Guy Lafleur and and Frank Mahovlich, Marcel Dionne and Tiger Williams. This sport has really opened up a lot of doors for me.B次元官网网址�
He certainly wasnB次元官网网址檛 the fastest out on the ice on Sunday, but that didnB次元官网网址檛 stop him from potting a few past the goalkeeper.
B次元官网网址淓arlier in the game I scored a couple of goals, they werenB次元官网网址檛 great ones, but they still counted,B次元官网网址� McGrath said.
As for how much longer he has in his tank?
B次元官网网址淭he guys havenB次元官网网址檛 told me to quit yet, so I am going to keep going.B次元官网网址�
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bowen.assman@vernonmorningstar.com
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