(He remembers that people would throw change down on the ice and he would scramble to pick it up.) His childhood friends and neighbors began to recognize his God given talent, and named him "crazy legs" because of his remarkable speed and agility. People outside the community also began to notice his exceptional skating ability. (A prerequisite for being a standout hockey player) Every foot race he entered he won. He seemingly ran with a fear of losing.

When he was 7 he was offered a contract with the Ice Capades. They saw great potential in his natural skating ability and wanted to train him as a figure skater. Doug turned down the offer, as he didn’t want to leave home at such an early age