People we meet in hockey rinks
Many from our local population probably never enter a hockey rink.
In thinking about this recently, I thought about some of the interesting people I’ve met in local rinks.
One of these people is David Hutt, the icemaker and a 10-year employee at Colchester Legion Stadium.
“When I’m caught up in my work, I get to spend quite a bit of time out around the arena,” said Hutt, 40. “I get to associate with both players and fans, it is really great, you get to meet the rink people. I have talked to a lot of nice people over the years. You meet a lot of nice people in hockey rinks.”
Hutt also told me he has met a lot of good hockey players over the years. Aswe talked further, he spoke about his rink duties.
“I enjoy everything from running the ice plant to making the ice and I’m also involved with maintenance work and keeping the facility clean. I enjoy it all, it’s unreal getting paid to work here. With my interest in hockey, there couldn’t be a better career, it’s really amazing.”
In the 1980s, David and his younger brother Dennis both played in the Truro and Area Minor Hockey Association.
“Dennis and I were both rink rats as young guys. I played minor hockey from atom up to minor junior. I played defence, I wasn’t a great prospect but I played with an edge. I grew up in Truro’s eastend, I have a good memory of my friends and I playing ball hockey when we weren’t at the rink.”
Knowing Hutt from when he was a young minor hockey player, he always had a good take on hockey. Recently, he had my interest again as he described the CEC Cougars, a high school hockey team playing out of the stadium.
“I like high school hockey, it is good, wide open hockey, they throw some good body checks but they keep it clean. Calibre wise, I feel there are some high school hockey players who definitely could be playing major midget hockey. CEC have a number of guys who would do OK in major midget.
In my estimation, Hutt comes across as being exceptional, and Colchester Legion Stadium manager Joel Dawe agrees.
“David is such an asset to the stadium,” Dawe said. “He takes ownership of the building; the workplace is very important to him. All of our user groups think highly of David; he’s always willing to help people out. David also makes good suggestions around the stadium. It was his initiative to have the (glassed in) displays at the entrance to the building. Guys like David are the unsung heroes of the community. Often, when he’s not working, you’ll find him here supporting the kids and teams.”
David and his wife Jenifer have three young children.
Receiving athletic awards is not new to Andrew Juliusson, a young goaltender from Rines Creek, near Shubenacadie.
The Grade 10 student at Hants East Rural High School won the Chester Clark Upcoming Male Athlete Award and he has also received NSSAF long distance running awards. He is a former male athlete of the year.
Last Saturday at the West Colchester United Arena in Debert, the West Colchester Cobras Lyle Carter’s sports column appears midget A goaltender was pre- Saturdays in the Truro Daily News. sented with the Trevor Ferguson If you have a story idea, contact Memorial Award. him at 902-673-2857.
“It was exciting,” Juliusson, 16, said. “When I learned I would be the recipient of this trophy in memory of Trevor Ferguson, it was pretty special. It is an honour to be presented with this award.”
Trevor passed away in 2006 following a vehicle accident. He had been an outstanding young goaltender from 1994 to 2003. His first hockey was played in advanced novice in the WCMHA. He later starred with several teams, including West Colchester Cobras in bantam A. Establishing quite a record as a goaltender, a glassedin memorial to Trevor is found at the entrance to the arena. He is described as a young man who displayed courage, leadership and played hockey for the love of the game.
Juliusson, who began hockey as a forward, said: “I liked watching goaltenders, it looked pretty cool. I decided to become a goaltender. I played quite a few years in goal in the South Colchester Minor Hockey Association in Brookfield. This is my first season playing inDebert. I’d like someday to play junior hockey.”