THE HISTORY OF SMRHL (Surrey Men’s Recreational Hockey League)
Special thanks to the group below as this biography was only possible
with their assistance:
Jim Flach, John Lingholt, Rick Townsend, Gary Wells,
and John Fraser.
Assembled by; Brad Engelland - 2006
Link to; The SMRHL Executive over the years. Print a copy
Rick Townsend, John Lingholt, Bob Montgomery, Gary Wells
and Bob Cox created the Surrey Men’s Recreational Hockey League “SMRHL” in
1983. The founding members were mature
Surrey residents who wanted to play hockey without the serious threat of injury
that was present in competitive leagues. This group had been playing
non-contact hockey (shinny) for three years on an informal basis, but with no
guarantee of enough players or ice time availability, the five decided to form
a non-contact hockey league for “mature” men
Gary Wells brought the league format to the group of
friends, as he had been involved with a league in Ontario using this format. Gary
Wells competed as a player for many years, and later also refereed for SMRHL
until 05/06. Although taking many hours of organization (thus the
executive of smrhl), this format got rid of dangerous rivalries & cliques
that were around in some of the other leagues. It also allowed lesser skilled
players, a friendlier atmosphere in which to learn and play the game. Additionally,
there was nothing with this format anywhere in the lower mainland at that
time.
The
Fundamental Policies of SMRHL are:
·
The
league rules reflect and shall continue to reflect that the League is for
“non-contact” hockey only.
·
The
league prevents excessive individual/team rivalry by creating new team rosters
at the beginning of each playing season in such a way that players are rotated
from team to team.
To create the League, the group approached Surrey
Counsel to sell the idea, and acquire ice time. They were turned down. Dejected
but not deterred the group questioned John Lingholt (still playing in the 05/06
season) as to what had happened. He informed the group that they should talk to
his Uncle, who happened to be the Mayor of Surrey. John’s Uncle was also a
close friend of the current Head of Surrey Parks & Recreation. Needless to
say, over breakfast at the Mayor’s house, it was discussed, decided, and was
approved shortly thereafter by Surrey Council. Bob Montgomery paid the initial
funding deposit of $5000.00, and the
League was approved.
SMRHL’s
first ice time was awarded at the North Surrey Recreation Center “N.S.R.C.” but
they now needed 100 players. The player list that was used for Council approval
was actually an Ontario league, so they placed an ad in the local paper. When they
arrived at N.S.R.C., on the day planned for registration, a Saturday morning at
9:00 AM. They were surprised to find a lineup of players waiting to join, and
by 1:00 PM they had a full league roster, all with deposits and even a waiting
list.
The league started with 6 teams, 16 players on each
team and required players to be at least twenty-five years old. Every second
year, the League raised its age requirement by one year until it reached the
age of thirty or older. Since approx. 2001 it has been thirty–five and over The
first president elect was Bob Montgomery,83/84 with Gary Wells acting as vice
president. Game times at N.S.R.C. were 8:00, 9:30,11:00 PM. Original sponsors,
Surrey Radiators (white), Prime Collision (black), Van Martin Realty (blue),
Pacific Dodge Chrysler (red), Surrey Inn (green) and Chi-Chi's Restaurant
(orange “Philly) also Molson Brewery donated $1000.00, (I understand they also
supplied a couple of cases). Prime Collision was the first ever playoff
champion, a team that Jim Flach was a part of, and who is still playing in the
10/11 season), 1st championship trophy
The league expanded to 8 teams in year two 84/85, with
the addition of Buns Master Bakery (blue “Quebec Nordiques”) and Fleetwood Tile.
(gold/purple “old LA Kings jersey’s) Fleetwood Tile and later The Hockey Shop, continue
to Sponsor a team entering the 10/11 season. Thanks to Rod Bolivar, who was also
an original player in SMRHL, served on the executive, and continues team sponsorship
today. In year two, with ice times of 6:30, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 PM. all games
were on the small ice at N.S.R.C. The small ice surface was a great equalizer
but nobody liked the late start, or the early start for that matter. When the
new ice surface was put in at N.S.R.C. in approx. 1987 it gave the league
a chance to drop the early and late starts. There were now two start times
on the small ice, 8:00 and 9:30 PM. and two start times on the new ice 8:15 and
9:45 PM.
Rick Townsend was elected president starting in 85/86
and served nine seasons until the end of 93/94. The league was popular and many
good times were had back then. Rick did an excellent job of managing the league
with tournaments being held at the end of the year and all the organizing of
the executive and committees, Thanks Rick and its always good to see you again at
the annual golf tournament.
Jack Cook was elected president at the start of the
94/95 season. A year later 95/96, The City Of Surrey forced smrhl out of
N.S.R.C., citing a shortage of ice times for minor hockey. The cancellation of
our ice time came after SMRHL, just the spring prior, had generously donated
$10,000 for upgrades at the N.S.R.C. pool.
At the start of 96/97 SMRHL moved to The Great Pacific
Forum (GPF) in North Delta at the south end of the Alex Fraser Bridge. SMRHL
also expanded to ten teams and played on three sheets of ice. These were good
years and the league enjoyed a busy bar upstairs after the games. Jack Cook
served three turbulent years until the end of 97/98.
The second season at GPF 97/98 saw Rick Townsend
return as president and served until 99/00. SMRHL had only 9 teams that year,
so every 8th game was a bye. Some liked it, some didn't, but with declining
numbers of players and rising costs it was agreed to drop back to 8 teams,
and that’s where we've been ever since. During those seasons, with some of the
most memorable and closest finishes in SMRHL history the GPF went into
receivership. Prices went up and it was uncertain if SMRHL would have a home.
Lots of discussion took place on our future, even a suggestion of building our
own arena (Jack Cook always thinks big).
Gary Shepherd took over as president in the new
millennium and donated his time and services. Gary saw an opportunity for the
league to continue, when a long time friend Louie Labby was promoted to manager
of the Surrey Recreation Centers. A new arena was being built in
Fleetwood with the intent of making money (more adult rec. hockey orientated)
so Surrey Parks & Rec. and SMRHL kissed and made up, hard feelings
forgotten. SMRHL has been at Fleetwood since 2000, and it seems to be a good
fit for most of the currently registered players. Gary also agreed to move the
league stats online with the prodding of Brad Engelland’s offer, to bring the
League into the new millennium with a website and online statistics. The smrhl
domain www.smrhl.com was registered and the league went digital in 06/07.Gary
served the league very well as president for six years, and continues to assist
the executive as needed. Gary is still an
active force on the ice going into the 10/11 season, but is still, as always,
the last guy dressed before any game.
Randy Kika was elected president in 06/07 and remains
in that position as of 10/11. As times change so did the idea of the annual post-season
hockey tournament. Randy suggested that a golf tournament may be a nice change.
This was welcomed by many and frowned upon by some, but the hockey tournament
was a large undertaking requiring many volunteers and the tournament’s participation
was in decline thus making balanced teams quite a task. It was decided to host a
golf tournament instead. At the end of the 05/06 season the Annual SMRHL Golf
Tournament was born. This golf format gave the players a chance to show their
golfing skills, spend an afternoon with current and retired members (friends) off
the ice over a steak dinner after golf.
The golf tournament has been very successful and in
2010 attracted over 100 golfers with 120+ for dinner.
Thank you
to the few special people that created SMRHL, and to all
the executive members, team captains, ref’s, time keepers and volunteers
who continue
to make this the most entertaining hockey league in the lower mainland of
Vancouver BC. The longevity of SMRHL only proves that the design of this
league, the quality of its members, and the friendships created, will make it strong
moving forward into the future.
Veterans
SMRHL players
that played since the inaugural 83/84 season (25+ seasons) only retiring
recently are Marty Kerins, Dale Herman and Walt Laybourne. Still playing (28+
seasons). Jim Flach, Dave Bullen, and Chris Webb.
Honorable
mention
to other
stand out SMRHL members who have donated a large amount of time to make SMRHL
function:
Vice Presidents – (Gary Wells 83-85, Cliff Heatley 86-88, Ralph Boyce 89-90, John Lingholt 910-00, John Fraser 01-11),
Treasurer - Mathew Hanrahan 00/11
