First of all. Although I haven't participated much in the conversations on this site, I do come in here on a very regular basis and love getting my memories fondly stimulated by the discussions and pictures that get posted.
I grew up in Verdun. Played in Norman Dawe hockey from age five in mosquito though to bantam and then on to midget with the Verdun Grads.
Back then in the late fifties and sixties it seemed every kid in Verdun played for Norman Dawe hockey.
Anyone remember those year end banquets. The first one I recall was at the fith aveune theatre I think.
Anyway I just watched this new movie "Miracle". Anyone else see it?
Its about the USA hockey team winning the olympics in 80 and beating the undefeatble Russians. Of course the Yanks make it out to be the most important hockey event ever.
I know its old history..and never really liked history all that much with Mr Prunier at VHS either..
BUT!
Who can forget or remember the 72 Canda Russia series!
That was without a doubt the greatest hockey event period. Since then of course the face of hockey has changed...
BUT..
What started out as a curiosity turned out to be all out war.
Not just a one game in the olympics but a whole seven game series on both sides of the world. Unlike the olympics.. Schools were tuned in.. places of work were tuned in.. the whole country was practically shut down to tune in.
It was their culture against ours.
And not only in Canada .. I have a couple of russian friends and I asked them if they knew about that series.. Their eyes lit up .. "OH YA.. the whole country of russia shut down to watch it" They said.
Anyway my point is why do we Canadians and (Verdunites first of course), have to be subjected to the US propaganda all the time why cant we create our own! Im not trying to be policital just a comment..
Johnny O
13 comments:
Hi Johnny O, The US hockey attitude ,and the making of the 'Miracle', is called explotation and profit. All US sport is driven by profit. I 'm Canadian and living in Connecticut and see it daily. There is a 'huge' difference in Canadian and US attitude and culture. We live so close yet are so far away. When the US won the world Juniors this year, the news of it was no where down here. NO money in it, you see. If the Canadian Juniors had won, every household in Canada would know about it. Go figure. We won the '72 Russian match based on shear guts and determination. Were we more talented than the Russians then? I don't think so, but we won anyway. That series taught me a life lesson. Long live Canada and 'its' hockey!! Jim
Hi JohnnyO, Read that you played in Norman Dawe. Did you have a woman coach, my mom was one of the first coaches for the league. I believe there were a few women coaches when the league started out.
hi johnny o when did u play hockey in norman dawe,my grandmother was the registrar for norman dawe late 50 early 60.when u registered to play u can to the house where i lived. my grand mother was MARTHA LIDDELL miles bim liddell
Hi Miles, Yes I sure do remember your Grandmother Martha Liddell. I have nothing but praise for her. She was such a wonderful lady. So selfless and giving. Every kid who played for Norman Dawe and their parents, during that time will never forget her. She did so much for Minor hockey in Verdun. There was also a Norman Dawe mosquito all star team that came out a few years later after I moved up to the bantam age level (12 & 13 yrs) that was named after her. “The Martha Liddell Dynamiters” They were the best of the best mosquitoes (5 – 8 yr olds) in the league. Perhaps in the province. Any Dynamiters out there in cyber land? I also remember your flat on Verdun Ave where we would go to register. It was beside the old fire station at the corner of Osborne. I think that was the cross street. We used to get these books of tickets to sell so that we could get our team hockey sweaters. Although I haven’t lived in Verdun nor Quebec since 76 I occasionally go and visit there. Whenever I go by your flat on Verdun Ave I always take a second and third look and a flood of very fond memories fill my head related to it. For instance I remember during the peak registration sometimes scores of us kids would line up outside on the veranda waiting our turn for your grandmother to register us. She had her “office” in the first room to the left as you went in if my memory serves me right. I think that every kid that went to register with her at least once and probably only once, would ask her to buy one of their tickets. She was so expert though. She would point to the stacks and stacks of books of tickets and ask us if we wanted to buy one of hers cause she has so many to sell. Any other Norman Dawer’s out there who remember that? Your grandmother was truly a wonderful lady Miles and a wonderful soul. Martha Liddell is truly one of Verdun’s great Hall of Famer’s. JohnnyO
Hi Winter Hater, I don't recall any women coaches at the time I played for Norman Dawe. I started in mosquito (5 to 8 yr olds) around 1957 or 1958. Back then only boys played. Girls would never even be caught dead in hockey skates. Dont get me wrong, I have nothing against girls or women playing hockey at all.. afterall look at our womens Olympic hockey team.I also love to go and watch my Neice play hockey. Its just thats the way it was then. I would be interested to know who your mother is though. Perhaps I would recall her name. There was one lady connected to Norman Dawe however that was very well known. Martha Liddell.. She was the selfless woman who use to register everyone from her home on Verdun ave. I just replied to Miles' Bim and said a few more things about here there. JohnnyO
HI JOHNIE O THANKS FOR THOSE KIND WORDS ABOUT MY GRANMOTHER.SEE PAST AWAY IN 1963 AND MR JOHN HOLDEN TOOK OVER HER.SHE EVEN DOCTORED MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE SO I COULD START PLAYIN WHEN I WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD.MY DAD STILL LIVES IN VERDUN ACTUALLY ALMOST PARRALEL TO THE VERDUN AVE RESIDENTS ON BANNANTYNE AND BEATTY.WE LIVED IN THAT HOUSE ON VERDUN AVE UNTIL 1970.YES THATS RIGHT TO THE MARTHA LIDDELLL DYNAMITERS,I VEVER PLAYED FOR THE MOSQUITO TEAMS BUT I DID PLAY 3 YEARS OF REEWEE WITH HER NAME ON MY CHEST.MY DAD HAS AFEW OLD NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND PICS I THINK OF HER POSING WITH SOME OF THE BOYS AT HOCKEY TIME.JUST TO LET U KNOW IN THE HISTORY OF HOCKEY IN VERDUN SHE WAS THE ONLY WOMAN COACH AT THE TIME TO HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.MOST DEFINITE BEFORE YOUR TIME.MY DAD PLAYED FOR HER SO I HEARD ALL THE STORIES.AT THE SAME TIME SHE WAS RUNNING HOCKEY IN VERDUN MY GRANDFATHER HER HUSBAND WAS THE PRESIDENT OF QAHA WHICH WAS THE QUEBEC AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION,BEFORE ROBERT LEBEL.HOCKEYS NOT THE SAME IN VERDUN OR FOR THAT MATTER IN CANADA AS OT WAS BACK IN THE DAY.THANKS AGAIN MILES BIM LIDDELL PS COULD I GET A LAST NAME AND AGE PLEASE JOHNNIE O
HELLO JOHNNIE CHECK THE PICTURE SECTION I POSTED SO OLD PICS CHECK YOUR EYES HERE FOR MORE TOO COME BIM
Hi JohnnyO, Read your message. My memory is not that great concerning my childhood but I do remember that there were about five women who coached a boy's hockey teams. Esther Neil( my mother), Lee Brennan, Noreen Hanrahan were three of the women, can't remember the others. I remember that the kids were so young that the refs had to pick the little tykes up for the face off because as soon as they would swing the stick, they would fall. I thought these kids were so cute. Maybe I am wrong in saying they coached for Norman Dawe but the name rings a bell. I was never much into hockey even when I was a little one. Does anyone remember these women or heard of them?
HIYA WINTER I HAVE HEARD THOSE NAMES BEFORE BUT NEVER RELATED TO HOCKEY,I WILL PASS THEM BY MY DAD HE WILL REMEMBER MILES BIM LIDDELL
Great collection Bim. I definately remember the Norman Dawe crests and the black and gold ones as well. My mother probably still has some of mine somewhere. I used to be a regular fan of B&G football in 69 and 70 I think... when they went out west for the Canadian championships at least two years running. We used to go to most of their games. We would rent buses to go to their away games in the montreal area and of course go to the home games in Verdun at the Stadium beside the auditorium. I had a number of friends and good acquaintances on that team as well. Any B&G heros out there? Kevin Prentegast was the QB then and Donnie Mehan was the star reciever. After the games we used to have these incredible parties at Gary Hopwood-Jones' house across the street from where i used to live on Allard. I also coached Norman Dawe Bantam one season before my calling to go out west. Great posting Bim thanks. JohnnyO
A Dynamiter right here! Mosquito and
Pee-wee. Played with Bim Liddell (and a host of others)!
Tom
HEY TOM R HOW U DOING,HOPE U DIDNT MIND ME POSTING A PIC IN THE PICTURES SEC WITH U IN IT BUD.NOW ITS YOUR TURN POST SOME PICS FROM BACK IN THE DAY IM SURE U AND BRO STEVE SHOULD HAVE A COUPLE. GOOD TO SEE U HERE IN VERDUN CONNECTION BIM LIDDELL
HEY AGAIN TOM, GET STEVE TO CHECK THIS OUT THERES A LOTTA GUYS HERE FROM VERDUN CATHOLIC HIS AGE.MAYBE HE WOULD FIND SOME OLD BUDS.KICK HIM IN THAT BIG BUTT OF HIS GET HIM STARTED.TEACH HIM SOMETHING MORE THAN EMAILLIN JOKES.HAHAHA. HAVE A GREAT DAY TOM YOUR OLD BUD BIM
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