Olympic Hockey
November 17, 2009 by admin
Talk about getting goose bumps… That’s exactly what I told my young friend, John Galluzzo, when I read the following article. Never mind that his brief recap of the Miracle at Placid really touched me, but I know (or knew) many of the characters John mentions here. Actually, the author’s dad worked with me as an assistant high school hockey coach eons ago, and a young John skated in a few of my clinics way back when. Then, I worked with Bobby Sheehan, Ed Taylor and Peter Breen, and I even had the chance to watch a young teen named David Silk in his youth hockey days at the old Cohasset Winter Gardens and Pilgrim Arena (where my NEHI Teams still practice).
No matter how you connect with the following, however, I doubt anyone forgets where he or she was the day Al Michaels spouted those magic words (through a snowy, pre-cable broadcast?).
Many thanks to John for sharing this…
– Dennis Chighisola
Olympic Hockey
As originally published in South Shore Living
By John Galluzzo  johnjgalluzzo@hotmail.com
Broadcaster Al Michaels’ final call of the astonishingly unexpected wrestling of the Olympic Gold Medal for hockey away from the juggernaut Soviet Union team by the United States in Lake Placid, New York, in February 1980 still echoes in the minds of hockey fans across the country. “Do you believe in miracles? YES!”
While the victory itself was one for the United States as a whole, and one which had obvious political overtones during the strenuous days of the Cold War, the story of the accomplishment ultimately grew from early morning skating drills and hockey practices in only four states: Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and right here in Massachusetts.
We may never fully understand the effect that Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr had on the development of that 1980 team. Much like the Tiger Woods craze of the late 1990s is responsible for the overabundance of golf courses today in the U.S., the urge to be like Bobby drove kids in the Boston area to beg their parents for skates, pucks and sticks in the early 1970s. Their wishes spurred the construction of ice rinks all over the region which were soon filled to their rafters with town teams of “mites, squirts, peewees and bantams,” sometimes two and three levels deep, organized into leagues that kept the lights burning from pre-dawn until post sunset.
The South Shore already had a love of the game, played until the mid-sixties outdoors on frozen ponds, and more formally in places like the Hingham Skating Club, where a small wooden hut with a wood-burning stove gave players a place to lace up before hitting the pond. “There has always been a strong hockey tradition down here,” said Richard Johnson, curator of the Sports Museum at the TD Garden. “In the late 60′s and early 70′s no less a team than the Montreal Canadiens signed both Larry Pleau [of Lynn] and Bobby Sheehan of Weymouth at a time when you could count the number of Americans in the NHL on the fingers of one hand.” In Pembroke, Hingham, Rockland, Cohasset and elsewhere, indoor rinks became the schooling grounds for the boys whom Johnson calls “the sons of Bobby Orr.”
One of the local South Shore rinks frequented by the likes of Dave Silk and Bobby Sheehan
“Dave Silk started skating at the Winter Gardens at a very young age, 7 or 8 years old,” said Peter Breen, former owner of the Cohasset Winter Gardens, which sat on what is now the site of the Cohasset commuter rail stop on Route 3A. “He skated a lot with Ed Taylor, in his hours,” he remembered. Taylor, a champion of South Shore youth hockey, founded the Scituate Braves program in 1968, coaching, managing and even driving his team from home to the rinks and back. Young Silk, who had just lost his father, found “a surrogate father” in Taylor, he told the Boston Globe years later. And so the road to the Olympics began for the Scituate youngster.
Thayer Academy called first, and Silk answered with an astounding 85 points (goals plus assists) in his freshman year. Boston University’s attention was gained. In his first year there, 1976-77, Silk broke freshman records for goals, assists and points, earning New England rookie of the year honors. In 1978, he and his teammates earned a national collegiate championship, and the National Hockey League’s New York Rangers could wait no longer. They drafted him that year.
But Silk had one final item on his hockey agenda before giving up his amateur status, which, in 1980, was still required to participate in Olympic sports. He skated for the national hockey program through 1979 and into 1980, alongside a final squad composed of twelve Minnesotans, two skaters from Wisconsin, one from Michigan, and three of his Boston University teammates: Mike Eruzione of Winthrop, Jack O’Callahan of Charlestown and goalie Jim Craig of North Easton.
Their story has been told repeatedly through nearly thirty years, most recently notably through the Disney movie Miracle. Silk netted 48 points in international competition, climaxing with two assists in the 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union on February 22, 1980, the penultimate game on the road to gold medal, but, to all true fans of the sport, the gold medal game (the United States beat the Fins two days later 4-2 to officially claim the medal).
As the final seconds ticked off, Al Michaels began his call, giving Scituate and the rest of the South Shore youth hockey community – the coaches, the rink owners, the teammates, the Zamboni drivers, the fans, the pro shop skate sharpeners, the moms and dads who sacrificed early morning sleep to help their kids follow their dreams – a moment they would never forget: “Eleven seconds, you’ve got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. Do you believe in miracles?”
“YES!”
I wonder if anyone out there remembers the Play-More Arena (not sure of the spelling)? This was a very small pond in a nice family’s backyard (they didn’t even skate) just off Rte 18 in E. Bridgewater. The dasher boards were installed each Fall by local hockey enthusiasts and the lights that allowed for night play were switched on by someone in the house. Whitman HS and several South Shore HS played official games there…as long as the natural ice was skateable, no Zamboni was available of course. This all took place in the late 1940s and fifties.
Darn, Peter, I love that stuff (history like that, I mean). I only wish my dad was still alive, because I’m sure he’d have remembered.
I didn’t start skating until the late-1950′s, and it was at the old Weymouth Skating Club (long since burned down). I do hope someone can remember where the rink you describe was, though. I’m only a mile or so from the E.B. town line, and I would just love to know more about that.
As an FYI… There used to be a small hardware store here in Whitman (on Rte 58), and a farm adjacent to it — Clayton’s Farm was it’s name. Old Mr Clayton used to flood a small area for the neighborhood kids, and he also surrounded that outdoor rink with floodlights. I grew-up on the opposite side of town as a kid, so I only got there on occasion. Closer to where I grew-up was King’s Castleland, a small amusement park which had a good sized little pond out in front by the side of Rte 18. So, many of us kids would go there to skate — not so much for hockey, but more for fun.
I think back with fondness now for folks like that, and I thank the likes of Mr Clayton and the King Family (as well as the family you mentioned). Just think about how giving they were to allow kids a chance to do something they loved.
Thanks for sharing that, Peter!
I graduated from Whitman High Schhol in 1952 ( Whitman-Hanson Hiigh was not on the scene yet). We played N.Quincy, Quincy, Milton, Brockton and our home games were on Play-More. Next time I’m at the Bridgewater rink with my two grandkids I’ll stay on Rte 18 a few miles East into E.Bridgewater and see if I can find any trace of that old spot. Just off 18 on the right near a cemetery as I recall.
Anyway, my wife and I were talking about your Comment earlier at dinner, and we were wondering if that rink was on Forge Pond, just north of EB Center. ???
Nice meeting you today at the rink. I went home North on 18 . At the lights at E.Bridge, bear right on Central St. big cemetery Grace Bible Church. Sign “John L. Silva Athletic Complex. go down Church street. About 100 yards on right is small pond.Not much of a pond really. The original pond was about 85′x200′ max.There is now a house on the right . I think 58 years has severly altered the landscape. Traveling down that first 100 yards did seem familiar though. It’s the right neighborhood.
Aaaah, you beat me to it, Peter… It was awesome meeting you today! What a coincidence that we should be at the same rink at back-to-back hours. (Your grandsons’ team surely did look strong, too!)
And thanks for those directions. My hockey travels will take me that way early this coming week, and I’m going to swing through that neighborhood to see what I see. (Again, that would have been a neat thing to talk to my dad about.)
Oh, and by the way… Yes, for sure, things change over many years. But so do our recollections!
Those might not be perfect directions but they are close. It is hard to believe that small puddle was once about 85 x 200. I may be off but I bet I’m close. Reminds me of Ozymandias. Some neighbor might have information or recollections. There were lots of amateur hockey guys invoved who are about in their late seventies or early eighties. They were the force behind this memorable piece of local history.
As much as finding that place intrigues me, I’m dying to think of some old-timer from around town who might remember it and perhaps tell me some stories. I think you’re right about the age, too, in that they’d be in their early-80s.
On your recollection about the size of that place, though…
A lot of things that seemed huge when we were young seem awfully small in later life. (Now I’m wondering if the little farm pond I always skated on as a kid — in a Smith’s Farm field off Auburn Street in Whitman — was really much bigger than my kitchen!)
The Pla-Mor was about regulation size. Of course, I think the Bruins used to skate on 85×180. The local players (the guys now in their 80s) were very active in E. Mass, not just E. Bridgewater. I seem to recall a team named The Arlington Arcadians and few others in those days.I dropped a line to the E.B. Historical Society. I’ll let you know if I find anythink interesting.
I recall hearing about the Arcadians as a kid. And I surely would like to know what you hear from the EB Historical Society.
FYI… I tried to find the rink tonight, but it was too dark. I think I’ll look for it again on Sunday afternoon on my way home from BIA.
Good luck. The Historian I contacted lives in VA so isn’t really a help. I think I have the location correct but, as I said, the real rink sized water is long gone. Maybe some neighbors might know esp. on the oppsite side of the little street. Beyond that is all athletic fields that were not there in the old days.
Peter, is the historian a former Whitmanite?
There were several “historians” listed by name( I had simply googled E. Bridgewater Historical Society). The one I chose to message turned out to be from VA and his claim to fame was Mayflower Descendant. Suggested I call the Town Clerk.
I’m still trying to think if I know anyone from the previous generation. Especially someone in their 80′s — and a sportsman — would probably tell me everything. Come to think of it, I’d love someone to do an article for the My Experiences section, and even include some old photos. Just imagine the history in something like that (not only for Whitman, but something that would probably be representative of the whole region). Darn.
As an FYI… Look in this category for the great article done by Joe Coulter — about his growing up playing on the outdoor rinks in Canada. Awesome!
I finally found it, Peter!
The combination — of going through East Bridgewater, MA, and having some daylight — at last gave me the opportunity to follow your directions (and they were good). And, just as you said, down at the bottom of the hill I saw the little body of water that must still once in awhile echo of kids chasing pucks early in the last century.
Also, just so you know, I have the word out, trying to find a local history buff who might tell me more about that rink.
So, thanks for putting me onto that. I do so much love knowing about the past — in our game, as well as around my hometown.
Good going indeed. If you do find out more historic facts, let me know. I’m tempted to contact The Globe’s Tony Chamberlain. He lives in Duxbury and he is about my age. He may be retired but he always reported on outdoor sports, skiing, sailing, etc.
It’s still driving me crazy, Peter, that I haven’t located someone who knows the (hockey) history of that era. But, I won’t stop trying.
As for that ex-Boston Globe writer… I don’t know why you’re just “tempted”. I would go ahead and contact him. If he’s anything like the rest of us (crazy sports fans), he’ll probably love getting into this story.
FYI… I finally took the drive to see that rink (or its old location) right after the last snow storm. I wish I took some video or pictures then, because the snow kinda framed the whole thing. That said, I’ll probably wait until after the next snowfall to go again.
I bumped into Tony Chamberlain at the supermarket a few days ago. I asked him about PlayMor Rink. He had a recollection of actually covering an event there, in the very distant past. Maybe our discussion will trigger off some help from Tony or, if we come up with anything I bet he would like to hear from us…which might create an article in The Globe. Who knows. I bet if it was mentioned in the paper we would get some reaction in return.
As I say in my new blog, Peter, I live by my diary. And, a note reminding me to “check on the EB rink history” stares me in the face each morning. So, while I’ve already blasted an SOS on Twitter and Facebook — and within a Facebook fan page for Kings Castleland, I know I’m not going to stop trying until I can cross it off from my diary. (On the Boston Glove… Beyond me living or dying for publicity, my mom also likes to see my name everywhere!
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I am still looking for someone older (probably in their 80s) who knows a little history when it comes to East Bridgewater, MA sports (and of course, hockey). Have them contact me, huh?
I think there are a lot of potential candidates out there in their seventies. I think the most active period was from 1950 through the early sixties. Then local indoor rinks began to proliferate and Play.Mor probably slowly eased into retirement.
Peter, would you believe I have an unbelievable vision of a video in my head to tell the story about that rink? All I need is a little information to make it happen (oh, and I need another snow storm to get the video footage I’m envisioning). I think you’ll love it, if we can only get more info.
Bingo, Peter! (You wouldn’t believe what I’ve gone through to locate someone who knows EB history.) Would you email me?
Mr. Chighisola,
Mr. Clayton was my grandfather. Thank you very much for your kind words and sharing your memories of him. I really appreciated reading it!
Wow, Kimberly, that’s actually neat that you found my comment about your grandfather (and thanks for leaving your note). And, just so you know, I and thousands of other kids (back then) as well as grownups truly liked and appreciated him. Thinking about it further, I’d say that your grandfather and his generation were hugely responsible for making Whitman such an awesome little town to grow-up in. Thanks again!