BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Hockey is Nick Tomiuk?s great love. He played the game long after retirement age and his adventures
took him across North America and beyond.
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After many years playing semi-pro in the USA, Nick Tomiuk received a call from Max Silverman coach and general manager of the Sudbury Wolves in 1952. |
Tomiuk played junior hockey in Hamilton in the early 1940s. In 1943 he joined the navy, along with half the roster of his team to fight Nazi tyranny. Tomiuk was just barely 17.
?It was war time and rather than waiting to get drafted I volunteered,? said Tomiuk. ?In our day the navy and army were always looking for active hockey players because they played games over in Europe.?
As the Second World War raged on in Europe, Tomiuk fought the good fight on the North Atlantic Ocean. He served on two frigates during the war and one mine sweeper when the war was over. He was glad to do his part.
?It was frantic at times, but it was a heck of an experience.?
Tomiuk received his discharge in 1946 and went home to Schumacher. He played for the Macintyre Macmen the year the team won the NOHA Senior Championships.
The following year, the left-winger began his professional hockey career that would take him all over the United States.
Tomiuk was invited to the Cleveland Barons for a try out. He signed a contract and was shipped to Minneapolis, where he played for three seasons.
Tomiuk was then sent to Portland, Oregon and from there he was sent to New Haven of the American Hockey League.
The New Haven team went bankrupt and Tomiuk found himself back in Cleveland.
After several seasons in the professional ranks, Tomiuk longed for his home and family.
?My son was ready for grade school and I wanted to play hockey up north and be closer to him.?
Tomiuk asked for his release from the Cleveland franchise. The owner granted Tomiuk?s wish on one condition.
?I had to do the owner a favour and go play in Seattle for one more season. I did and received my amateur card.?
In 1952, Tomiuk, who was 28 at the time, received a call from Max Silverman, coach and general manager of the Sudbury Wolves.
Tomiuk plied his trade for seven season with the senior Wolves and helped them reach the Allan Cup final.
Fans had such a connection with Tomiuk, that during his fifth season they contributed enough money to purchase a 1957 Pontiac sedan on ?Nick Tomiuk Night.?
?I was the only player in Wolves history to be given a car. It was a great honour,? he says.
Tomiuk fell in love with the Nickel City.
?It was a good hockey town and I made it my home.?
He remembers the fans the most.
?We outdrew National Hockey League teams like Chicago, who were getting about 4,000 fans a game and we were getting over 5,000 fans a game.?
Tomiuk retired from the NOHA in 1959 and began a remarkable old-timers hockey career that spanned about 40 years.
?I played in the Sudbury Old-timers league and with the Walden Retirees for almost 40 years,? said Tomiuk, who ran a garage for more than 30 years.
His tenacity served him well on the ice and off it. In 1997, he had open heart surgery. In 1998 he had shock treatment to correct an irregular heart beat, that didn?t work. Both times he returned to the ice to play hockey in the Old-timers and Walden leagues.
In 1999, Tomiuk was diagnosed with colon cancer and had 80 per cent of his colon removed. He returned to play for the Walden Retirees.
?It made it tough to get around, but I manage.?
Now 78, he lives in Sudbury. He no longer plays hockey but counts his blessings.
?I?ve had a good life,? he says. ?I played about 70 years of hockey...I spend a lot of time with my little
doggie Sheena.?
