THE ROOTS of HOCKEY FUNDRAISING DINNER by BARNEY MOORHOUSE For Reproduction Rights Call Access 1.800.893.5777
The 6th annual Pond Hockey Classic tournament, hosted by 436 Squadron, CFB Trenton, in support of Wounded Warriors Canada and the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation, took place from February 3 to 5, 2017. A gala Puck Drop Dinner complete with auctions, both silent and traditional, set the tone for a successful weekend Friday evening. Upon reflection it was the one ideal weekend during a winter of wacky weather. As Philip Ralph, National Program Director of Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) and Canadian Forces Regimental Chaplain to the 32 Combat Engineer Regiment declared, given enough lead time he could put in a request for such ideal conditions.
Guest speakers included Linda Blanchette, a granddaughter, daughter, wife and mother of CF members who have or are still serving and Honourary Colonel Eugene Melnyk, perhaps better known as the owner of the NHL Ottawa and AHL Belleville Senators.
LINDA BLANCHETTE
In 1999 Blanchette started a group for families suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The group has since expanded nationally and is part of most military bases. Her husband Joss served for 29 years and was medically released due to PTSD and heart attacks.
Married for 38 years, Blanchette described her husband as the most fun-loving guy. They were posted to Germany where they learned to communicate “100%” as all “we had was just one another.” Joss coached hockey and cheered on his figure skating daughter. “We were such a happy, loving family.” Then he was posted to Bosnia in 1994 for a UN tour as part of the Police Force. Joss arranged to have flowers delivered to Linda monthly with his pre-written cards for his entire tour. He returned May 29, 1995 and was posted to Shilo, Manitoba. A housing shortage delayed the family living together and then Joss was sent on a three month course. In the meantime Linda had noticed that something was different with her husband.
He began drinking more and during the kids’ hockey games he would flinch and duck when the puck hit the boards – or when a door closed. He became impatient. He needed space. Posted to Trenton the family had to tip toe around their father.
In 1998 Joss had his first heart attack. The specialist asked if Joss had PTSD and “I (Linda) said no… Then I thought a second and asked, what is PTSD? Thus began my journey.”
At home life continued to deteriorate. Linda put on 100 pounds; Joss yelled more and suffered from nightly fears. One night Linda awakened when she hit the bedroom floor with Joss yelling “In coming!” Speaking softly she reassured him that he was safely at home and when he awoke he asked why she was on the floor?
On medical leave Joss was losing his identity and began spending money freely. Linda had to hide money in order to pay the bills. She was working full time, acting as both parents and began marking the liquor bottles to determine how much he was drinking. Finally, she gave Joss an ultimatum. Seek help or she and the kids were leaving. “We never knew when the dragon would show up.”
The Military Families Resource Centre (MFRC) helped save my life. “Eve Lawrence and I talked and we decided we needed to start a group. I started to climb out of my hole and noticed what it did to my kids.”
Her eldest son was asked to play for the Sting Farm hockey team but he declined as his mother needed help. Her daughter, once very close to her father, now fought with him “like cats and dogs” and her other son became quiet and withdrawn.
Her eldest son purchased tickets to a Boston Bruin – Ottawa Senator game. Entering the arena, they surrounded their father to protect him from the crowds. After the game they waited 45 minutes while the crowd dispersed before leaving.
Joss is still suffering. Remarkably, he attended the pond hockey tournament for an outting even though he feels unsafe in strange places. Linda continues to be a wife, mother, father, nursemaid, taxi driver, coach, sounding board; knows it was not her fault and that she did not cause the pain. “I am not the evil person I thought I was.” In addition, she is now evolving into a motivational speaker. And based upon the rapt attendance of her audience Linda Blanchette is succeeding.
HCOL EUGENE MELNYK
Eugene Melnyk had done his homework. He freely admitted that public speaking wasn’t his forte and smoothly eased into his presentation by inviting Linda Blanchette to the stage where he presented her with a Sens jersey with the name Blanchette prominently displayed. Following hugs and words of appreciation he launched into his talk relating his love and support for our national game. He supports the Hockey Canada Foundation, the Women’s National Championships, the Ottawa Lady Sens and the Mississauga and Toronto teams of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
Melnyk talked of flying into Kandahar Afghanistan with $50,000 of hockey equipment for the troops. The Canadians received Sen sweaters; the Americans, Ranger sweaters. What stood out in his mind was the intensity of play during the ball hockey games. The players had returned from the field of battle only to enter another battle – for hockey supremacy. When he asked what spoils went to the victorious hockey gladiators he was told – “The Kandahar Cup”.
“Their prize was a tin cup!” he re-iterated, more than once. All for pride; no pay! It was a most unique experience. And here he was spending millions chasing the Stanley Cup.
Melnyk recalled the first year he purchased the Sens they made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs, making it to the Eastern Conference finals. Melnyk thought “piece of cake” or words to that effect. Little did he know, he lamented.
“What are we doing for the military?” he wondered. And so began the military family appreciation night hosted by the Ottawa Senators. Which, Melnyk joked, was quickly adopted by The Leafs. And now all professional sports – NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA …- host military appreciation nights. In fact, to date, from 2003 to 2016, 28,000 military families have attended in Ottawa.
Earlier in the evening, during the live auction when participation was ebbing, Melnyk offered to host two guests in his private box during any Sens game during the season. That shot of adrenalin inspired a voracious bidding frenzy with the final winner paying $4700. The only request, by Melnyk, was “NO Leaf jerseys!”
During Melnyk’s talk, Auctioneer Jim Nelson stood, interrupted and asked if Melnyk would take his personal Sens sweater literally off his back and contribute it to the auction. With no pause for thought Melnyk agreed and the sweater earned another $1100 for the cause.
In all, the 6th annual Pond Hockey Tournament netted $62,000 for Wounded Warriors and Trenton Memorial. Over 6 years that totals $202,000. A remarkable achievement that had its genesis as a sports day where competition, co-operation and personal achievement would combine to raise funds for worthy causes.
Eugene Melnyk – May 27,1959 – March 28, 2022.