Senior Hockey League created over 40 years ago

by C. Scott Holland

In the summer of 1978, a hockey league was created for players who were no longer eligible to play in minor systems or competitive Junior leagues. At the time, director and one of the organizers, Harold Puyda, stated, “It is designed to offer recreational hockey for players who are unable to participate in other competitive leagues.”

The league began with six teams with local sponsorship, 15 players on each team including a goaltender, and a cost of $25 to play. It had been hoped to attract more than 90 players so there would be spares in case of serious injuries. Those replacement players were soon needed as work transfers and shift work sidelined some members.

Murray Setterington was its first president while Bud Hillman, Brian Plumb, Kent Williams, Dave Pilmer, Brian Brown and Harold Puyda comprised its first board of directors.

In its last 20 years, the league’s stability has centered around its solid leadership with people like Kevin Gale, Pat Sonoski and Andy Anthony ensuring its membership and quality remain high, while sticking to many of the original rules set down by its founders.

Kevin Gale was a player and president of the Leamington Senior Men’s Hockey League for over 15 seasons.

Among its original rules, many of which have remained, been amended or added to since the founding, are the primary ones of no body checking, no slapshots and indefinite suspensions for major infractions such as fighting, spearing or butt-ending. As well, anyone receiving three minor penalty infractions is handed a game misconduct.

In the 40-plus years of its existence, the player with the most years played is Bill Baird. Bill laced his skates up for 35 seasons and even got to play a few with his son Matt.

Mark Matheson shows his commemorative puck for when he obtained his 1000th career point.

Mark Matheson is not far behind and probably would hold the record if he had not been out of the area for several years.

The major change besides the venue and the cost, is the fact there are no longer any actual coaches, although at times injured players take over the bench and door duties. Tribute definitely goes to longtime former player and coach John Hammond, who is the winningest playoff coach in the league’s history and except for nights when fire call duty summoned him away, he handled the coaching with a flourish.

John Hammond was one of the LSMHL coaches whose playoff teams were hard to beat.

Other legends in the early days included Murray Setterington, and Willie ‘The Fog’ Pimiskern.

As it was in the beginning, there are still six teams but with six different sponsorships. The original Leamington arena is long gone but the league has played mainly on the Highbury Canco (Olympic-sized) rink since 2000 and has added a championship game, plus a website and playoff trophy.

While play for the 2020/21 season is undecided as of yet, anyone wishing to play or get on the waiting list can contact Andy Anthony at: aanthony@peleelighthouse.ca. Anyone wishing to check out its website can do so at: www. hometeamsonline.com

Here, Brian Ford (left) greets Derek Pugh on opening night as the two LSMHL vets get ready for action.