Liftlock atom tourney fetes 60th anniversary
The Peterborough Liftlock Atom Hockey Tournament started with humble beginnings in 1958 with an eight-team, one-day peewee tournament at the old Civic Arena.
Howie Eastman, 88, is the lone surviving member of the founding committee and he says none of the original committee members could envision what it has become. Sixty years later the tournament features 126 teams, 2,000 players playing 243 games over four days on 12 area ice pads. The storied tournament, which later shifted to atom, boasts alumni like Wayne Gretzky, Eric Lindros, Bob Gainey, Mickey Redmond and Corey Perry immortalized on a special 60th anniversary print commissioned by local artist Murray Henderson.
Eastman was a guest of honour amongst 250 tournament alumni, sponsors and volunteers at a 60th anniversary luncheon Saturday at the Evinrude Centre.
“It amazes me every year,” said Eastman, when asked what founding members would think of the tournament’s longevity. “It’s become so much bigger and so much better. The organization is more sophisticated.”
It’s a family affair for Eastman like it is for many participants and volunteers. Eastman’s son Dan and grandson Robert played in it and his greatgrandson Joseph plays mite and he expects he’ll one day play in it.
“It’s just wonderful,” said Eastman.
Tournament chairman Dan McNamee played in it in 1974 when his father Wayne was a volunteer. Dan’s son Michael played in it.
“I remember having lunch at St. Alphonsus with all these older ladies putting together a heck of a meal,” McNamee recalled, of his participation. “They made sure all the players got fed. I remember playing at the Memorial Centre in the championship game but probably the best part of the weekend was I got off school on the Friday and mom didn’t get mad. Thirty years later my son was a player in this tournament. It’s really neat to think my family has three generations involved.”
Retired NHL player and scout Doug Gibson was the guest speaker and played for Mark Street in the tournament in the 1960’s, later coached in it with St. James and now volunteers at the Ennismore arena.
“I’m dating myself here but when I played in the tournament it was an eight-team, one-day event at the old Civic Arena,” said Gibson. “What a vision Howie Eastman, Don Dorsett and Lloyd Hardy and their group of volunteers had in the early ‘70’s to create a full weekend event.”
Mayor Daryl Bennett never played in the tournament but he’s well aware of what it’s meant to the community.
“The city’s motto is that nature provides and industrious people develop. Certainly this tournament has been well developed over the years by industrious people,” said Bennett. “We live in the best city in the world. As I look around this room I know exactly why. It’s the volunteers and participants who take charge of events of this nature and involve so many things in this city.”
MPP Jeff Leal, whose children Braden and Shanae played in the tournament, paid tribute to its founders and volunteers.
“We always have to remind ourselves we truly stand on the shoulders of others,” Leal said. “Over the years whether it was year one or year 60 the people in this room have developed and built this tournament into an incredible success; not only with a provincial reputation but a national reputation.”
As is tradition each year the tournament recognizes volunteers and sponsors on its Wall of Honour. Added in 2018 were volunteers George Ellis, Paul Mitchell, Donna O’Brien and Doyle Torpey and sponsors City of Peterborough, Currie Tire, Franz’s Butcher Shop, Mike Harrington Insurance, Steve’s Quick Chek and Swiss Chalet.
Also recognized with a standing ovation were four long-time volunteers who are in their final year on the executive; Steve and Joan Casey, Wayne Carter and Garth Stoner.
The tournament kicks off with the Russelle Toyota Skills Competition Tuesday from 5:30-9:30 p.m. at the Evinrude Centre. Games run Thursday through Sunday.