Remember playing hockey for the Normy Dawe??
Playing at brown park or melrose or way down at willibroad.. The snow was piled up so high beside the boards that our parents were standing at board height looking down on us!!! At the end of the season as the snow melted you would find a dozen pucks a day in the melting snow...
gotta luv it..
jd
27 comments:
Sure do, John. Played for the Pee Wee Chiefs 58-59 at Wilson (Brown) Park. The player benches were really huge!! ha ha. Most of the time, the lines weren't painted on the ice and offsides were determind by the blue lines painted on the boards. I remember John Holden who organized the leagues. I think the league was called the "Martha Little Memorial Assn" before changing to Norman Dawe. Rgds Ron Chapdelaine
hey ron.. imagine asking kids today to play under such conditions..i was a goalie in those days and i remember having to wait for the first game to finish and they would take the pads etc.. off of that goalie and put them on me!! thanx for replying. jd
Hi John, yer right on. When my son (he's now 25) played minor hockey in the Belleville area, he and his team mates used to look at me with very strange looks when I told them that when I played minor hockey in Verdun, we played all of our games outdoors and the one day of the year that we got to play in the Auditorium was a special treat. Mind you back then the cost to play minor hockey was to sell a book of pull-out raffle tickets (we took the staple from the side of the book that showed the cost and kept those tickets for ourselves) vs $300-500 it costs now, AAA excluded. When I told these kids we used to put vaseline on our faces to reduce the effect of winds when we were skating into the wind at -30, they thought I should be committed. Rgds Ron
It was Norman Dawe before it was called Martha Liddle. ask coachbim.
Steve
Here is a pic. from Melrose Park
What about the park between Woodland & Egan
Playing indoors once in awhile.Here's a pic. from the Verdun Aud.
Steve
Hiya Steve
Good to see u back and keeping people updated on NORMAN DAWE AND MARTHA LIDDELL HOCKEY.
Its great that we still have people that remember cuz let me tell,The City of Verdun doesnt seem to have to much recollection of the history of the sports associations that served the english community thru the 40's 50's 60's and early 70's.The sports and recreation dept in Verdun seems to have forgotten those who served their communities as volunteers in Sports in the english sector,in the heyday of minor sports,in VERDUN.There are still people living in Verdun that were there during those times and have heard squat from the City of Verdun in the last 30 years.People like John Holdem and Martha Liddell have no special mention no where in the city of Verdun.My dad,Walter Liddell is still alive and kicking and still residing in Verdun,and has never been invited to anything thru sports and recreation in recognition of the work that was done in the early years of Hockey.I am sure some of our members have living relatives that remember those days very vividly even if they cant recall what happen 5 minutes ago.The era, the people and the kidz of those associations,US, have all but been forgotten by a city we call Our Home Town.Our stories are like ghost stories or fiction, except for US that lived them.The important thing is, that,
"WE NEVER FORGOT"
Thanks 4 REMEMBERING
Miles Bim Liddell
Hiya Ron
any relation to a John Chapdelaine.
have you seen these photos
http://groups.msn.com/VerdunConnections/verdunsportsmemorabilia.msnw
Thanks for remembering
Bim
I look back and recall my days playing in the Norman Dawe Asc. hockey with great fondness. I used to play Pee Wee and one year (1961?) we won the Championship under the name "Beavers". I used to go get my books of tickets, see them door to door. I think they were a quarter in those days. In return, we were issued a team sweater and leggings and hopefully you got on the same team as your friends. Thinking back, it was probably no more than 10 bucks to play and I dont recall if the parents had to pay for rink time in the early 60's. I remember my mother and father walking me to the various rinks in Verdun to play other teams on their " Home Rink". Mine as Brown Bld. I recall having my Dad tie my skates as he could lace them up real tight and I felt I was flying across the ice. They use to stand on the snowbanks which surrounded the rink and shouted support. Today parents think their son is the next Gretzky and having paid all that money and want to see their son move up. I recall that was not the mood when we played. We were encouraged to have fun, try our best, but at the end of the game, remember another game was coming up. I do not to this day, remember fighting on the ice. Recently, here in Ontario we had a bench clearing brawl with 8 year olds!! Even the coachs got into the fray. Sorry, for me that is not hockey for young kids. What we learned with Norman Dawe was the way the game was supposed to be played. No Cheap shots and if we tried something the referees called it right away.There never was a loser in our parents eyes. Going into the "Shack" to warm up between periods and some parents brought hot chocolate, others oranges and there was always enough to go around. My Dad used to take off my skates and rub my feet to warm them up. Once a year we received a treat in being able to play at the Verdun Aud which to an eight year old I was awestruck. I, for one, do not feel that the coaches and volunteers who committed their time, own money and support will be forgotton. I am now 58 and the organization lives in my heart forever. Please let Mr. Liddell know from me that I recall all the efforts put in and when they are in my heart -will never be forgotten because they left their indelible stamp on me which to this day. I recall with fondess and a yearning to go back to those wondefrul days when people like Mr. Liddell set an example of what living and sport are all about. As a footnote- I never became a Gretzky, but am a much better person having experienced the Norman Dawe coaches and experience. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Keith Harrison Beeton, Ontario.
What a great post Keith,...... it's like reliving the going to the rink thing, and the 'flying across the ice' when your skates were tied properly..... warming up in the shack,.. You have a good recollection,of how it was.............. hf&rv
Yes Bim you had a good front row seat to see all the players sign up.Verdun Ave. next to the jewlery store bottom flat.Don't forget the year end trophy day..
Steve
Bim, Ron, in your posts you have mentioned the name of John Holden. John was my uncle and as a kid I remember hearing all about how involved Uncle John was with the hockey league in Verdun. I think that he might have been a little disapointed that my brother Terry and I never took up organized hokey as it was a big part of his life. When he retired from Canada Customs (1974/1975) there was a party for him at the Verdun Auditorium Annex and quite a few people showed up. Among them was the Deputy Mayor of Lake Placid New York. I am attaching a copy of the speach given by the Deputy Mayor who also made Uncle John an "honorary" citizen of Lake Placid. He talks about the Maple Leaf Athletic Club in Verdun (circa 1920) and the beginning of the Norman Dawe Associan. Hope you find it interesting. Phil Sheen
Attachment: John Holden 002.jpg
Hello Phil
Thanks for posting that,I also have a copy of that speech but cant locate it,the award in 1961 that he recieved from the city of Verdun my grandmom,recieved same in 1959,the first recepient was FERGIE,everyone knew Fergie as the snotty nose guy.I have the actual trophy.Many people thought yer uncle John and Martha Liddell were BF/Gf cuz it seemed they were always together.Ironnically they were both laid to rest in same cemetary and are almost facing eachother.My Dad and I placed yer uncles ashes.I only have great memeories of Mr John Holden and the greatness he bestowed on the Kids from Verdun.I have alot of memorabilia from Norman Dawe and Martha Liddell.My dad is still living in Verdun and he has some good stuff too.Keep the memories alive and always Remember.Thanks
Miles Bim Liddell
Yeah Fergie... he had a lot of paper routes to do each morning to start his day,and probably delivered the Star in the afternoons.There were good times in Verdun sports over the years.Don't forget Our CB Club eh Bim. Good Times in Verdun. Steve
Hi, I would like to know who started Norman Dawe Hockey. I remember my mom being one of the coaches for kids, who I would say were maybe 6 or 7, and I would be standing watching the kids skating. They would fall on the ice and couldn't get up so the refs would have to skate over to them to pick them up. I remember some of the names of the boys and I have seen some of their names on VC.
WinterHater...Norman Dawe i think Martha Liddell had something to do with that.But for the right answer ask Coach Bim,Martha was his grandmother. Steve
.........
Norman-Dawe park
Named in 1953 in honour of Norman Dawe who was secretary to the “Commission des terrains de jeux” in Verdun. He worked throughout his life on behalf of recreational pursuits for young people.
Address
1060, rue Woodland
Desmarchais–Crawford neighbourhood
Recreational and tourist facilities
> Playgrounds for children
> Water play
Yes Les that park is north of Bannentyne between Woodland and Egan right next door to the bakery on Egan.I remember going to Martha's on Verdun Ave near Beatty to register.John Holden was the convenor.There were two wooden shacks there one was bigger than the other.They were heated by Quebec heaters.The big one was for the players to put on their skates,the other was for storing the equipment andthe men who took care of the rink.( sorry for the spelling) Steve
Bim, John is my brother; lives in Lasalle. Thx Ron
Thx, Phil. I always remember John Holden as working very hard to ensure that everything went smoothly in the organization of the minor hockey association - he must have put in an extraordinary # of hours! He was also very accommodating. If one of my buddies who lived across the street from me and I asked John if we could be on the same team, he would usually arrange it. Rgds Ron
Hi, I found this site actually looking for Norman Dawe hockey and thought i'd write I remember (1960) getting my hockey tickets at 713 Godin, 2 books of 14 tickets and 3 more if you wanted a jacket.at the end of the year. Those outdoor games at Woodland park(Norman Dawe park) sometimes Willibrod park, Melrose park(pee-wee,bantam). The games at the Aud on Saturday mornings early season when the outdoor rinks weren't ready. I'll never forget the trips to Lake Placid those were the greatest... Racing to Mackesy Sport store to review the tropheys displayed in the window.Later the tropheys were displayed at Woldes cycles. The end of year banquets at St Willibrod church basement. If you had good year you got called up on stage to get your trophey from Mr Holden. As kids we did not realized the work Mr Holden Martha Liddell and others did. A large house league the A league teams Dynamiters, Penguins trip banquets... Times were good then hockey was fun not like what I see now. Police being called to break up fights at Novice games parents going crazy. in the stands. Anyways hope I didn't ramble to much but when I look back we had a lot of fun. Roger
Thx for your comments, Roger. You bring up many other circumstances that are forgotten over time. Kids today would have trouble understanding how much fun we had playing hockey (mainly outdoors) back then and what a treat it was to get to play a game at the Aud. Rgds Ron Chapdelaine
HI I played for Norman association in the 60's played at Melrose park also played at egan park and in the allstar games that travelled to Lake Placid Is there a site with old photos
Actually it was the old Verdun auditorium and we had our dynamiter party at willibrord park
I was a black kid playing for the Dynamiters back then and had a bunch of fights
Bim, everything you said. In my heart. !
Eric Drake
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