Soon after he grew to love the game of hockey and participated for several years with pick up teams in local team play. Since there was no artificial ice to play on all his skating was done on natural ice between the months of November and March. There was hardly a day that went by that he didn’t lace on his skates during that period. Other than his skates, he never had any store bought equipment until he was approximately ten years old. He would stuff his clothing with newspapers and magazines or rummage through some of his older brothers used equipment in an effort to protect his elbows and shins.
***At the age of 14 he started playing organized hockey for a Sudbury, Ontario juvenile team. He played left wing and was the district’s outstanding juvenile player, and the recipient of the Most Valuable Player Award. It wasn’t until that age that he first skated on artificial ice.