BATAWA’S POND HOCKEY CLASSIC by BARNEY MOORHOUSE
Batawa’s 7th annual Pond Hockey fund raising tournament featured classic Canadian wintry conditions. The temperature high on Thursday February 1, 2018, the day preceding the 4 on 4 competitions, rose above zero softening the ice. On Friday, the temps dipped to minus double digits and the 42,000 square feet of ice was prime for hockey which began at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning. As the day advanced the mercury gradually rose, the snow began to fall and it didn’t let up until Sunday afternoon at the tourney’s conclusion.
It was a major challenge to keep the ice surfaces clear. Snow removal equipment included a side-by-side with plow, a 4×4 with plow, a tractor with a snow blower and the Canadian-made Olympia (not a Zamboni). Every puck blown by the snow blower broke a shear bolt. And, of course, there were the shovellers. Some teams, during the half-time break, were resourceful and used benches to help clear the ice.
Clearly the snow won, adding to the classic Canadian winter conditions and the players loved it. Reminded some of the Junior championship game in Buffalo earlier in the year.
Although the games are played during Saturday and Sunday – each team guaranteed 3 games – Friday night was set aside for the Gala Puck Drop Dinner which featured an Arugula salad with Asian pear, Maple toasted pecans and Cider Shallot Vinaigrette. The main course was either Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding, herb roasted mini red spuds and market veggies or, for vegetarians, grilled vegetables, red lentil Phyllo Cake with fennel and red pepper Coulis. Dessert comprised blackberry stuffed pears with raspberry sauce and chocolate drizzle. Plus complimentary red and white wines. All served up by Batawa Ski Hill catering.
Featured speakers for the evening were Chief Warrant Officer (Retd.) Darcy Elder and former Minister of National Defense Peter MacKay.
Elder
Darcy Elder served 30 years in the Canadian Armed Forces having recently retired in August 2017. During his career Elder served as a member of the Military Police Service, as a Major Crime Investigator, Surveillance Specialist, Close Protection Officer, and an Institutional Leader. He served in both Bosnia and Afghanistan. As an Institutional Leader Elder represented the Canadian Armed Forces as the Liaison Officer with Veterans Affairs and served a final posting as the Wing Chief Warrant Officer at 8 Wing Trenton, Canada’s largest RCAF base.
Elder’s father was in the Air Force and his mother was a Mounty. He is a big (Darcy is very tall) Bruins fan – “Cam Neely was a neighbour when I was a kid”. During his military career Elder visited 54 countries. Although army – “I felt like I was aircrew,” Elder recounted how he did things he didn’t think he could do and saw things he shouldn’t have had to see.
His 34 months of deployment to Afghanistan “were the scariest years of my life.” He was in charge of investigating threats to the impending Afghan mission and had been issued a Toyota Land Cruiser. It was no armed vehicle, the sole protection blast blankets on the seats. “At least the vital parts were protected,” he quipped, with a smile. Their motto for the mission was Defense, Development, and Diplomacy. In charge of 7 MPs, in Kabul they provided Executive Protection. We were the “bullet catchers”. On more than one occasion he was accompanied by then DND Minister Peter Mackay. Afghanistan was a turning point in Elder’s life. “We all survived and everyone that we protected survived.”
In 2006, Elder had a one month leave. He “crashed” in the spring becoming angry, abusive, disrespectful, and argumentative. “I was totally medicated.” He was diagnosed with PTSD.
In the meantime, his wife Tammy, also Military Police, was experiencing a parallel role.
In 2007 Elder returned to Afghanistan. “More suicide bombers, IEDs, convoy attacks and people killed.” However, he added, “it had a therapeutic effect.”
When Tammy returned from her Afghan deployment, having served 28 years – “We were both collectively a mess.”
Following a mutually agreed upon separation which was, again, “therapeutic” Darcy and Tammy successfully re-united.
“Out of bad comes good. Stay positive,” he emphasized. He and his wife have learned to accept their demons after being to the darkest place a soul can go. They have been able to move on due to their resilience and support. “Reach out to help others face their challenges… I’ve got your back…Be there for them.”
Life for a professional soldier is not easy. It is different from the norm. And so Darcy Elder, in civilian life, has joined with Wounded Warriors Canada. It’s hard to think of a more appropriate fit.
Peter MacKay
Peter MacKay served as Minister of National Defence for six years, perhaps one of the most personable and popular ministers to fulfill that role. He is also a board member for Wounded Warriors Canada.
“Being the Minister of National Defence was the greatest job I ever had,” he proclaimed. Military life is a “calling. You stand in harms way. It’s a service that goes beyond understanding.”
“We won the lottery when we were born in Canada. It’s the best country in the world.”
He continued that there is an incredible family feeling within the Canadian Armed Forces.
“I’m still a recovering politician,” he exclaimed. “I entered politics unmarried and left with a family.”
MacKay admits that politics taught him a lot about family life. For instance, he was exposed to lots people screaming at him with irrational demands. He often found himself having to clean up a mess created by others. Which, upon reflection, prepared him for dealing with little children.
He talked about his tongue-in-cheek conversations with the Americans. “The War of 1812 was just that – a 4 year war. And we won it. We burned the White House inspiring words to their national anthem such as:
‘Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air’.”
Of course the Americans invaded and pillaged Toronto. Rumour, said MacKay, was that they were looking for the Stanley Cup.
“I told them they would never find The Cup in Toronto!”
Of course NHL players and owners, such as last year’s guest speaker Eugene Melnyk, visited Afghanistan, the only place that “you could drive a tank through a Tim Horton drive-through.”
MacKay recalled when he was being introduced to NHL star Chris Nyland. General Rick Hillier asked Nyland if he had met the minister? To which Nyland responded, “No, how are you Father?”
MacKay recalled how Hillier, a die-hard TO fan, proudly announced in 2009 to an assembly of 500, that “This is the year that the Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup!”
To which someone called out, “Hey Chief, now that you have the Stanley Cup here in Afghanistan, the Taliban are closer to it than the Maple Leafs.”
Having just recently returned to Parliament Hill, MacKay found himself participating in a very highly charged rugby competition between Royal Military College (RMC) and the Ottawa Irish. “Both sides brought in ‘ringers’.” MacKay was not one of them.
Near the game’s conclusion MacKay re-entered. On the last play of the game MacKay had the ball and 6’ 8”, 275 pound rugby star Al Sharon broke his arm. At which time one of MacKay’s body guards shouted out, “I just brought him (MacKay) safely back unharmed from Afghanistan and now only 4 hours in Ottawa and he has a broken arm!”
“Canada is the Golden Standard!” MacKay continued that “we are liberators, not conquerors; we are a force for freedom, liberty and democracy.” Echoing Darcy Elder, he said Canada was in Afghanistan for “all the right reasons.”
When a Dutch General asked MacKay if he is ever asked why Canada sends its very best and brightest youth into countries that most citizens will never see, he responded, “Yes.”
The Dutch General said when he is asked to justify doing the same he always answers that Canada did so for them in The Netherlands in World War 2.
“There are 50 schools in Afghanistan,” said MacKay. “The girls go to school.” And they are growing Saskatchewan wheat where previously poppies grew that eventually killed Canadians.
MacKay told of a live interview following a Detroit/Montreal game during which the legendary Foster Hewitt asked Rocket Richard for his “3 Stars.”
Richard quickly named his brother Henri, Boom Boom Geoffrion and Jean Beliveau.
Hewitt asked if perhaps there was a Detroit player that should be recognized suggesting, perhaps, Geordie Howe.
Reluctantly, The Pocket Rocket acknowledged Howe stating, “If Howe hadn’t scored those 4 goals the Habs might have won the game!”
MacKay extolled the virtues of the Trenton Memorial Foundation for its sincere desire to help those in need; of Wounded Warriors Canada for its compassion and outreach emphasizing that “there is a duty of care for the military by Canadians and their elected officials.”
During a hockey match between Royal Military College and West Point, accompanied by an Afghan General, Mackay joined the RMC team during an intermission. “Some were bleeding; others tended to their injuries.”
After leaving the dressing room the hardened Afghan General turned to MacKay and said, “If this is how Canadians play I’m glad you are on our side!”
“You learn a lot of lessons in sport,” said MacKay, “such as pride, purpose and camaraderie.”
Before leaving home to join the Wounded Warriors hockey team MacKay’s wife admonished him not to lose his teeth.
To the military members in attendance Mackey said, “You are our best citizens.” Personally speaking, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, he also said “I have been twice blest – a politician and now a lawyer.”
To date The CFB Trenton Pond Hockey Classic has raised $270,000 for both Wounded Warriors Canada and the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation – a totally driven volunteer engine. 2018