Local non-profit and champion of community sport, the Hardy Hockey Club, will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in conjunction with the Onaping Falls Recreation Committee April 27, at the Dowling Leisure Centre.
The Hardy Hockey Club is a not-for-profit hockey organization introduced in 1969, for the purpose of providing a low-cost men's recreational hockey team out of the I.J Coady Memorial Arena in Levack. The team was born earlier that year out a friendly game of shinny hockey, between the employees and mill mechanics of Hardy Mill.
"It was a lot of fun, especially for somebody that didn't play much when they were a kid," said Jack MacLellan, who having not worn skates for ten years prior, would go on to captain the Hardy Hockey club for the next 36 years. For all that MacLellan said he had the respect of his fellow teammates, he admits that hockey was never his forte.
MacLellan said his skills improved over the years because "there was only one way to go and that was up," but in the end, his captain's uniform "was just another sweater, we just happened to have a letter on it." For MacLellan, participating was more about the comradery he enjoyed competing alongside his friends and colleagues.
He recalled late-night Hardy Hockey games, where after an hour and a half on the ice, players would be wide awake and ready to go out for a drink with the guys. Which MacLellan said made Friday mornings at the office a bit "foggy" at times. "We slept and breathed that. It was awesome in the winter time. We couldn't wait for it to start the following year," said MacLellan.
Not associated with any particular league, MacLellan said that the team would compete against anyone from organized groups to a "bunch of guys from the Copper Cliff refinery," adjusting their roster along the way according to availability. While MacLellan said the core team consisted of approximately 15 people, with the number of individuals who would pop in for a game or two, he estimates more than 100 people have played for the Hardy Hockey Club.
Despite the Hardy Mill closing in 1971 and it's staff dispersed amoung Strathcona, Falconbridge, Lockerby mine or otherwise, MacLellan said the "hockey team was still that core, even if some of the guys worked elsewhere."
"Most hockey groups come and go," said manager of the Hardy Hockey Club Chris Kiernan. Which makes "50 years with the same organization, a remarkable achievement."
A life-long resident of Onaping Falls, Kiernan said he had outgrown the city's competitive leagues and was searching for a way to continue playing the sport he loves, when he joined the Hardy Hockey Club in 1992. Becoming manager 12 years later, Kiernan said his commitment from the team comes from an obvious love of hockey and the pride he feels in "keeping something going that has been around so long."
"It (has) allowed me to continue my life-long love of hockey, and given me friendships that I wouldn't have in my regular day-to-day life," said Kiernan.
Since its inception 50 years ago, the Hardy Hockey Club has moved away from formal games against other men's leagues and instead play among themselves in teams of two. Kiernan said this has been good for the group because they no longer need to adjust to another group's schedule and "it keeps the hockey low-key; more about going out and having fun, rather than focusing on statistics."
Over the years, the Hardy Hockey Club has evolved from the mining-dominant membership it had for the first 20 years, to a group consisting of residents from Onaping Falls, the Valley and Rayside Balfour. "Our group is similar but different," said Kiernan.
"They were a very tight-knit group because they worked together, but we're a tight-knit group because those core people see each other for 24 weeks every winter."
"There is a special friendship among guys that play hockey together," said Kiernan.
Proceeds from the Hardy Hockey Club's 50th anniversary event at the Dowling Leisure Centre, will go towards the Onaping Falls Recreational Committee and the community it supports.
Admission is offered at the price of $50, which includes dinner, dancing, photo booth, door prizes, live entertainment, souvenir and a free ride home to those traveling from Cartier to Azilda after 11 p.m. Those interested in only attending the dance beginning at 9 p.m., can do so for the price of $10.
Click here to read more about the history of the Hardy Hockey Club, as written by Jack MacLellan.
