View from Section 8 - Welcome Lakers Hockey

"Views from Section 8" returns! It's a popular column written by Don "Butch" Turcotte. The former Trappers Junior "A" coach and father of former NHLer and Lakers assistant coach Darren Turcotte will be chiming in with his thoughts here on BayToday.ca. Enjoy!

What do Dale Hewitt, Mark Kosturik, Mike Leckie and Peter Valenti have in common? All of these gentlemen played University hockey during their playing careers. Dale played at Colby College (Waterville, Maine) from 1976 to 1980, Mark played at the University of Concordia (Montreal, Quebec) in the mid eighties, Peter at Providence College (Providence, Rhode Island) from 1971 to 1975 and Doctor Mike at Harvard (Cambridge, Massachusetts) from 1974 to 1977. Personally, I played at Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts) - can't quite remember the years for sake of giving my age away. I should mention that Dale played for Jack Kelley his first year at Colby, Peter played for Lou Lamoriello (currently President of the New Jersey Devils), Mike played for Bill Cleary (member of the 1960 USA Olympic Hockey Gold Medalist team that was played in Squaw Valley, California). Bill Quackenbush (Boston Bruins) was my assistant coach at N.U.

I am sure there are other locals in the area that have also played under similar conditions. As a player there is nothing like it. At the Ottawa Gee Gees - Lakers exhibition game I noticed Peter and Mike on opposite sides of the giant metal beam near the entrance to the Hall of Fame room at the north end of the Gardens. Prior to the third period I left my seat to have a chat with them. Both said they had been reminiscing about their college days and the memories of those great years. A few days later, I crossed paths with Dale and likewise, he said that those years cannot be replaced. It is like a family atmosphere, in which all members of the family, the players supported each other on and off the ice. And then, there was the rest of the family - the students at the University and the other hockey fans. Not only did they enjoy the game but gradually grew into the team family atmosphere. I hope that the current Lakers feel likewise later on in their lives.

I have witnessed the Blue-White and the Gee Gee exhibition games and I am impressed with the calibre of play. I have also witnessed several of their workouts and am again impressed with the atmosphere and their efforts. I hope they become family, like in our past, and their play rubs off onto the rest of the family - the Laker students and the hockey fans.

Good Luck on a successful season and remember that the scoreboard in only a bunch of numbers. It's the effort and sportmanship that really counts -- winning is a bonus!