Forty years ago Dec. 22, the Kimberley Dynamiter Old Timers played a benefit hockey game for the Canadian Cancer Society. This was the last time local hockey fans in Kimberley were able to see their famed Nitro Line of Walter Peacosh, Ken McTeer, and Les Lilley.

Although the temperature was -30 C on December 22, 1969, more than 2,650 fans braved the cold to see the Nitros lace 'em up against a combination Junior A-College team lead by Danny Spring of Cranbrook, who was playing for the Edmonton Oil Kings on his way to a 130 point season, and a date in the Memorial Cup finals versus Guy LaFleur.

Spring was then drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, going 12th overall.

I organized the game with Don Lauriente and Don White. When we called Danny Spring to ask him to play, he insisted on paying his own bus ticket and arrived in town with frozen hockey gear, which his dad Frank Spring Sr took to the Laundromat just before we were set to drop the puck. Everything worked out though, as the Selkirk High School Band and Sno Fiesta princesses were just coming off of the ice, as Mr Spring rolled in with his son's gear.

The College team, coached by Butch Swaney, looked pretty formidable in the warm up. Jerry Swaney, captain of the U.B.C. T'Birds brought along the late Dougie Buhr, who later played in the N.H.L with the LA Kings. Jimmy and John Dalzell of the Vernon Canadiens came home to play in the game, along with Laurie Moore, John Kwasney, and the late Mervyn Swaney. Rod Silver the UBC goalie tended the net.

The Dynamiter Oldtimers were strong on defence. Ken White (CKEK) of the Cranbrook Royals came in to pair up with Don Laurente (Trail Smoke Eaters). Ginger Craig played on the Dynamiter blue line with veteran rearguard Rheo Touzin. Bill Steenson got the call to play at 3 pm on the day of the game. Steener was a three NCAA all-star at the U of North Dakota before coming to Kimberley to play and coach. Bill was recently voted in the top 50 all time hockey players in NCAA History.

Peacosh is arguably one of the best hockey players to ever suit up for the Kimberley Dynamiters, coming here after starring for the 1961 World Champion Trail Smoke Eaters. Prior to that, Walt (team mates called him Mex) played pro with the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Hockey League with Les Lilley, his line mate in this game. Walt Peacosh had the uncanny ability of getting the opposing defencemen to start running around in their own end when he had the puck, and, as any goalie will tell you that is never a good thing.

GAME ON

Many fans came out to see Danny Spring and they were certainly not disappointed. In the first period alone Spring had two breakaways but was robbed by the Dynamiter goal tender Danny Sullivan, who was absolutely brilliant in the net, kicking out 38 shots in two periods and left allowing only one goal. Sully would be playing pro hockey in Virginia one week after this game.

The Nitro line had not been on skates for two years, but their deft passing seemed to mesmerize the young college D'men particularly Ken (Ishman) McPhail of Michigan Tech who seemed to be on the ice every time Les Lilley scored.

Frank (Sully) Sullivan coached the Oldtimers and he did a great job getting the line match ups he wanted and kept the Nitro line shifts short. In the 1950's Sully had been voted the greatest Dynamiter player ever in a vote conducted by the Kimberley Daily Bulletin.

Alan Fabro came in to play goal for the Nitros in the third period and he faced a barrage of rubber from the college junior team with Danny Spring scoring three goals himself in the final frame, when the Oldtimers seemed to run out of gas.

I was hoping to play in the game and opportunity knocked for me when the late Don White could not get off of afternoon shift, so there I was, a skier playing on a line with Jim "Jet" Broadhurst and Michael Jones, a crafty center- ice man.

The only disappointment was that Bob "Nizer" James, a local boy who was captain of the Gonzaga University Bulldogs, and their leading scorer, was unable to play due to a sprained knee.

When the smoke cleared Les Lilley had scored six goals while, his line mates Cowboy McTeer and Peacosh chipped in with one each in an 8-6 win for the Kimberley Oldtimers. Carlo Johansen and Moose Ronquist officiated the game, calling only four penalties. John "Shotgun" Stone was denied on a penalty shot with a minute to go in the game by Rod Silver.

Notes of appreciation

John McKenzie on behalf of the City of Kimberley donated the rink for the game. The late Nikki McFarlane and Rona Loraas did a superb job that night selling and taking tickets. Thank You to the Harvey Nash family for providing an original Kimberley Dynamiter Sweater.

3 stars of the game chosen by Kimberley City Councilman Russ Lytle.

1. Les Lilley (passed away 2007)

2. Danny Sullivan

3. Dan Spring

The real reason we won the game was the play of our goal tender Dan "Sully" Sullivan who was unbelievable only allowing one goal on 38 shots on net.

I recently met Danny Springs' Mom Josie when she was chatting with Len Bousquet in the grocery store. Mrs Spring remembered going to see Dan play in the 1969 benefit hockey game with her husband Frank and their youngest son Derek.