Tournament In Helsinki.

Simon Woodey, Baz Clarke, Mike Reynolds, Peter Cap and John Hubbell all members of the Slough Tornados and Jeff Leger a coach of Guildford Junior Ice Hockey Club and a quasi Tornado were part of the team that represented Great Britain in the IIHF World Oldtimers

The Tournament was summed in four defining moments first by Peter Cap on two different occasions. After he scored the winning goal against France he leapt into Simon Woody's arms and yelled " I am finally British, and sitting waiting for the bus to go home, he said " I never could believe how much fun a bunch of old guys could be." The third moment was Baz's second effort goal and the excitement that ran through the team, made you feel that this was what oldtimers hockey is all about. The fourth moment is to show you what age and maturity does for oneself when you reach the age of oldtimers hockey. Simon Woody buying oven mitts as a souvenir.

The GB contingent had 11 O45's. 10 forwards and 1 so called goalie. The O35's had 8 forwards and 1 goalie. There were a group of players on both teams that as far as talent went should not have been there. But they were great team mates, they were the lives of the party, and they made us the most liked group at the tournament. The other big plus is that they will go back to their respective teams and talk up non-checking hockey.

The O45's only had four players that could compete with the world class competition, and the goal tending was non existent, virtually every shot on net went in. We were almost always playing like it was one to two men short. Both John and Jeff played for the O45 and O35 teams. Jeff got two of the three goals scored for the O45's is assisted by his right winger on both occasions John Hubbell. John also assisted on the third goal by Tony Boynton. The most impressive thing about the three goals was that none of them hit the back of the net. Jeff dislocated his shoulder in the fourth game, but with a few pain killers he soldiered on to quarter back the attack of the O45's, and significantly adds to the O35's.

The O35's were more completive, with Jeff Leger and my self added to the squad and with Simon W, Peter Cap, Tony Boynton and two fairly good D's we could have been completive. But Tony insisted in having a lines of 45's playing, and this really caused some problems.

Of the 25 points earned by the teams 13 were earned by Tornados. And 16 of the 43 minutes in penalties.

Simon Woody was diving in front of shots, rushing the puck and being his normal bossy self. And because of his take charge attitude he over ruled Tony on the French game and shortened the bench. It was his decision making and leadership that won the game for us. Simon was a souvenir hound, buying oven mitts, reindeer hides, Finnish jewellery, trading for hockey sweaters and buying Rick McLeish's jersey.

Peter Cap was on a line that had him playing by himself. He had no play maker to pass to and there fore all the efforts were solo ones. As you can see in practice and in games, Peter has a bullet of a slap shot. But somewhere along the way he forgot to learn the wrist shot. This caused him a lot of problems and good natured ribbing from his team mates (mostly me). Peter had four breakaways he missed on the first two and took a lot of ribbing from us, but I took the heat off him when I missed my 4, and most of the ribbing was directed at me. Peter was the life of the party, and was a great representative for the tornados. Peter was given MVP for the O35's championship game.

Baz as I stated got a great second effort goal. He played with his usual aggression and came up with the puck on numerous occasions. He is now really keen and thinking of going to adult hockey schools. Baz had his birthday over there and got quite drunk with all the free beers. His trip home was the walk of the dead, and he got no sympathy from his team mates.

Mike Reynolds was in the unenviable position of being on defence with some of these teams. We had to put him with one of the Scottish guys who was quite week, but despite the scores, Mike did a great job. Mikes main task was to chaperone Peter, teach what karaoke was, and pick up girls for Peter. Peter had all sorts of chances to pick up women, but he stayed true to his girl friend, and turn down everything Mike had to offer.

For me, this trip was really confidence builder. On the last day of the tournament I was 20 days away from my 55th birthday. Here is my record. John Hubbell was given the MVP for the championship game of the O45's and as a combination for the O35's and O45's scored two goals and got 5 assists, and 12 minutes in penalties over 8 - 40 minute stop time games in three days. This makes him the highest point getter and has gained the highest penalty minutes in GB Old-timer history. After looking at the finals of the O55's I feel I could be more than competitive.

The experience was fantastic, and rubbing shoulders, drinking and trading stories with ex NHL stars such as Joe Watson, Al Secord, Essa Tikenen, Jarri Kurri, and some of the 1972 Russian stars that played against Team Canada. Finland had a team at O35, O40, O54 and o50 and O60, called the Finnish stars that all the players represented their country in the corresponding Olympics or worlds. Canada sent a team called Les Boys and they were O60 and the life of the party. There were teams from Finland, Slovenia, Russia, Canada, France, England, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, America, Ukraine, Siberia, and Estonia.

There were two big parties one at the opening ceremonies where over 2000 old-time players got together. It was great, everybody hugging each other and talking over both fulfilled and missed opportunities. But always saluting each other with a drink of old-timer cheer.

This is an exciting trip and hopefully in the following years I can get some of our Guildford coaches such as Mike U to join the O35 team, Get Dave Tweedy and Brian Hepp, Ron C to join the O45 team, and John Hepburn to join me in the O50 team where I belong. The other aspect is that Guildford has now got some guys getting long in the tooth and we may be able to be the basis of a GB team.

Malcom Preens Description of the French Game.

After 3 defeats (two Finnish teams, 11-0 and 10-1, and Slovenia 11-2), we met Paris today for the wooden spoon. They opened the scoring at 8:28 on the powerplay, we equalised through Baz Clarke assisted by "Spud" (Glenn O'Connor), only for the French to comeback within 13 seconds. Then GB Captain (Woodey) took a minor penalty, and GB scored twice shorthanded - first through "Spud", assisted by John Hubbell (and #4 - but we don't have one of them !!!), and secondly through Petr Cap, assisted by "Fuzz" (Anthony Paul) and Malcolm Preen.

The second period started with GB playing defensively to try and hold the lead - and kill off some of the penalties - easily the most physical non- checking game I've played. John Hubbell extended the GB lead to 2, before Paris came back to tie the game with a couple of goals to make the last 6 minutes very tense. Being a playoff game, 5 mins OT, and penalties would follow....Except, Petr Cap, assisted by John Hubbell sealed the GB win with only 12 seconds left on the clock... and despite pulling the goalie for the last seconds Team Paris were unable to enter the GB zone, and the celebrations started.

Personally, I was hit by a slap shot (not allowed in this tournament), elbowed in the head, high sticked in the head, and punched in the head - none of which were worth a penalty.... apparently. Admittedly I got a few trips, and holdings in myself, and avoided calls... but for non-check hockey this was almost Agincourt revisited....Hopefully, as I type this, one of the team is buying a wooden spoon to present to the French at the banquet tomorrow night !!! [This was done I purchased the wooden spoon, jh]