Former members of the Pinehill Coffee Shop Midgets play a game of shinny at Pete Palangio Arena. PHOTO by: Jennifer Bywater
In April of 1984, The Pinehill Coffee Shop Midgets from North Bay hoisted the Air Canada Cup trophy in front of packed Memorial Gardens. This weekend, many of the 39 players who wore the uniform in the teams 6 year existence, came back to celebrate that accomplishment.
“For a short time were small stars on a big stage and we put it all together and it came through,” says Guy Girard, who was also named tournament MVP.
Sixteen former players made the trip with their families.The group enjoyed some ice time together, played golf and hosted a barbecue dinner at Pinewood Park.
“It’s really interesting to meet up with these guys, thirty years later. We got executives with incredible companies, we’ve got coaches that are providing us with a future of NHL players,” says reunion organizer, Brent Bywater.
The Pinehill Midgets prevailed in a field that included Edmonton Sherwood Park from the Pacific region, the Notre Dame Hounds from the West, the Ottawa West Golden Knights from the Central region, the Lac St. Louis Lions from the Quebec region, and the Dartmouth Midgets from the Atlantic.The team was coached by Butch Turcotte and managed by Blaine Bywater.
“You live in the moment, you don’t realize what you are doing, you’re just doing your best. I think for the community, there is still interest thirty years later which speaks that it had a great impact on the community and people still cherish. They still comment that it was the best hockey they’ve seen, says Bywater, who played all six years with the team.
When Guy Girard heard about the reunion, he says he had to come down and make the trip.
“When you win a championship you have a bond that is hard to explain, it’s great. We have not seen each other some 25 years, some 30 years, some less, but it’s like we were just playing last week. It’s really amazing to see all the guys and see what they’re doing now and see their families and see that most guys are doing well.
The tournament featured a handful of future NHLers including North Bay's own Darren Turcotte. Here's some of the other NHLers that took part in the tournament:
Ken Hitchcock - coach, Sherwood Park
Brad Werenka - Sherwood Park
Ian Herbers - Sherwood Park
Luke Richardson - Ottawa
Randy McKay - Lac St. Louis
Claude Lapointe - Lac St. Louis
Myles O'Connor - Notre Dame Hounds
Mark Vermette - Notre Dame Hounds
Cam Russell - Dartmouth
