I didn't grow up playing hockey, but some mysterious older girl taught me to skate on the neighbourhood rink when I was c. 10. A couple of years later I played in the first two seasons of the NHL.
In my first season, my hockey pants were cut-offs onto which my Mum carefully stitched Boston Bruins' stripes. My gloves were mitts, and I believe I played both seasons with shoulder pads or a jock.
I played defence and I'm not sure at what point it was that I realized that I was allowed to cross the red line. My best move was falling down in front of opposing players. (I may have started to do this on purpose.)
Here are a few pix taken at the LaSalle rinks of a game, a practice and of one Sat. morning pick-up game with the church guys.
By the way, by NHL I mean the Northwood Hockey League. I think the pix are from 1972.
This picture is from my second & final season in the NHL. They reassigned the players to new teams that year, and apparently my coach (and church friend), Marvin MacDonald traded for me. Our team was the Redwood Aces. We never did get black ace logos sewn onto our jerseys.
