In Arnprior...in the 60s...

Everything was for the kids
whether it be Brownies, Guides for the girls
(even back then they sold cookies)
Cubs and Scouts for the boys
(we sold peanuts to help cover the costs of camping, field trips)
swimming lessons, softball, and of course…hockey

A Saturday tradition in the Sorrenti household
after Mom’s hamburgers and homemade fries
Dad would turn the TV on to CBC
one of only three channels we could pick up in that small town
(the old folks on the municipal council voted down cable
for fear of it changing too much...
maybe they knew something we didn’t?)

Oh! the days
of legendary Hockey
and Hockey legends
when only six teams in the NHL
and only two of them Canadian
Toronto and Montreal
though most players
even on American teams
were Canadian back then

Hockey Night in Canada
always a big deal
in the Sorrenti household
Saturday nights
we’d gather round the Fleetwood
and watch the action in Black & White

When heroes came with sticks and blades
Bobby Orr and the Esposito Brothers in Boston
Bobby Hull played for Chicago
Frank Mahovolich – Detroit
Dave Keon and Tim Horton – Maple Leaves
Jean Beliveau, Yvan Cornoyer, Montreal

Johnny Bower
and other goalies
didn’t wear masks in those days

Long before the days of multiculturalism
the best games
were when Montreal played Toronto
French against the English
in a friendly kind of way
both teams well matched
with no certainty who would win

I played left wing
had a wicked wrist shot (thanks to the curved stick)
and brother Mark, goalie
Santa Claus brought both of us a whole set of equipment
for Christmas one year

Bantam - Pee Wee - Midget

Now even Wayne Gretsky admits
if his parents were raising him in this day and age
they probably couldn’t afford the cost

Although I was able to put my own son
into swimming lessons and Tai Kwando
I’ve always regretted he never played the sport


© 2020

780 hits as of October 2024

03/28/2020

Posted on 03/28/2020
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti