February 27, 2022

SPIRIT OF POND HOCKEY EMODIED IN DUNCAN VEITCH’S GRANDMA HELEN

GRAVENHURST — This weekend’s On the Pond hockey tournament was a spirited affair — on and off the ice — as players battled hard for the puck and celebrated the 16^th annual North American Cup championship.

And while the Duncan Veitch Spirit Award goes to the team “with the most enthusiasm, fair play and fun.”

It’s his grandmother who deserves the award as much this year.

The 83-year-old waved as she was chauffeured out onto the ice in a 4×4 to drop the puck to open the two-day shinny fest.

With the Correctional Services pipes and drums leading the way, Muskoka Town Crier Bruce Kruger gave a shout out to “O Canada” and “the great country of Ukraine,” in his declaration as fireworks lit up over Gravenhurst Bay on Lake Muskoka.

And it was “Game on!”

A fitting start to a much beloved event for the spirited Veitch, who died last March, said organizer Rob Carleton who dedicated the tournament in his honour.

“He lived for weekends like this. Getting away the guys, having a beer and playing hockey,” added “dear friend” and icemaker Brady Hoskins.

Eight-eight teams — one from as far away as Edmonton — joined in the competition on 20 sheets of ice at the Muskoka Wharf.

With the Muskoka Steamships as a backdrop the competition was fast and furious. Players sliced the three feet of ice into shreds as they ran up double-digit scores looking to advance to Sunday’s finals.

One of the teams was led by Brady Levold, a former minor league pro who began his career about a decade ago in Saskatoon with the Western Junior Hockey League and made it to the East Coast Hockey League before being derailed by a drug addiction.

He’s living in Gravenhurst now where he runs Puck Support, an addictions and mental health aid group.

The team was the winner of the Duncan Veitch Spirit Award for their full-on participation.

He noted in his remarks, while taking part in the official puck-drop, that all the players on Team Puck Support were wearing white jerseys with names on their back of players who had died from suicide or drug overdose.

The finals were Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

And the divisional winners were: