BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Putting a face on minor hockey in Copper Cliff brings many to think of Ken Creasey. He has been the face of minor hockey in Copper Cliff since 1964.
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Creasey has received numerous awards for his long-standing devotion to the game of hockey. |
He has devoted countless hours to the cause of helping kids get a fair shake at minor hockey. It?s a labour of love.
?I just enjoy what I do,? said Creasey. ?I love going to the rink and watching the kids skate around and seeing the smiles on their faces.?
During the hockey season, Creasey almost lives at the rink in Copper Cliff.
?I?m at the rink Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at night and Saturday and Sunday I?m there all day,? said Creasey.
?I don?t mind it all, would you if you loved hockey??
Creasey?s wife, Gwen, jokingly points out a sign hanging on the wall outside their home that reads, ?We postpone this marriage for hockey season,? as an indication of how much time Creasey really spends helping young hockey players pursue their dreams.
The Copper Cliff Minor Hockey Association was run by Inco Lld/ employees. In the 1960s, they got out of it.
Creasey stepped in and has never looked back.
He established himself as a well respected coach and manager in the association for the first ten years of his reign. In 1974, he moved into administration.
He has since served as an executive director, vice-president and is currently the president.
Hockey has been kind to Creasey and in turn, he has been kind to hockey. The game has changed dramatically over the years since Creasey became involved.
?It?s a lot more strict these days,? said Creasey.
?There are more and more rules and coaches have to be fully certified. There was none of that stuff when I first started.?
Even though the game has evolved and changed, Creasey believes it?s still a great sport for kids to play.
?We give the kids out here equal ice time,? said Creasey. ?There?s usually no problems from the parents and it
runs pretty good.?
Creasey deflects much of the credit to a team of about 15 to 20 guys who help him run the league.
?They?re all great guys and this league wouldn?t run as smoothly without them.?
Creasey has received numerous awards for his long standing devotion to the game of hockey.
In 1981 he received the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association Award for his outstanding contribution to minor
hockey in Canada.
Creasey also received the Northern Ontario Hockey Association Angus Campbell award in 1995, which
recognizes individuals other than players for their contribution to the development of the game.
Creasey is a founding member of the Greater City of Sudbury ice allocation committee and a member of the Nickel District Hockey League.
He also helped implement the Initiation Development program in Copper Cliff, which introduces the game of hockey to four- and five-year-old children.
Each year about 450 to 500 kids come through the Copper Cliff system that Creasey has helped maintain with his steadfast loyalty.
His influence has touched countless young players and left them with a lasting impression.
?I was with my wife in the emergency room one time and the doctor looking after her remembered playing hockey for me,? said Creasey.
?It?s a genuinely nice feeling when I?m somewhere and somebody comes up to me saying they played in the system.?
Creasey was an Inco employee for 40 years and Copper Cliff volunteer fireman for 25 years.
Even though the summer is here and the ice from the rinks has melted away, Creasey is looking forward to next season and beyond.
?There?s been a lot of great memories over the years and hopefully there will be more,? said Creasey.
?I?ll still be here until I can do it no more - whenever that may be.?
