The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Willowvale Bunk Blackhawks (WBB's) will be back in the Roller Goodwin Memorial Classic on the August long weekend for the 11th consecutive year. This storied franchise just might be the subject of Mark and Crystal Kolt's next musical production for the Flin Flon Community Choir. The colourful team with the best uniforms in the tournament started out poorly in the early years. Victories were far and few between for the new franchise, they were intimidated by the Kanooks, whipped by the IOSC, and even lost to the Oldtime Bombers once. They bottomed out when the Calgary Bombers, a team that had never won a game in tournament play, shut the Blackhawks out in 1995. The first three years laid the foundation of mediocrity as the team consisted primarily of hockey players from the Willowvale area. The stigmatism lasted until most of the original Willowvale alumni abandoned the floundering ship known as the Willowvale Bunk Blackhawks and joined what is now known as Marion's Boys or Team Davidson. The Blackhawks gutted roster had only one player left. Gone were the Premachuk Brothers, the Davidson Brothers, the Brothers Brothers, even Pat "Clapper" Liss deserted. Left holding the proverbial hockey bag was Brent Lethbridge, who could not cut the mustard on Marion's Boys. Faced with the humiliation of losing badly on a consistent basis, Lethbridge appealed for help and found a director of player personnel in his own home, his lovely and talented wife Susan. Susan was able to recruit only one player, Darrell "Hogger" Chudy, who had recently come out of hockey retirement. Thankfully most of Hogger's talents were off the ice, and he showed a true knack for player recruitment. Armed with the philosophy that Lethbridge and Chudy would be the two worst players on the team, the Blackhawks began a winning tradition by carefully adding impact character players in the right positions. The August tournament is no exception. The Blackhawks will be solid as recruiting has gone very well. Added to the line-up are real Willowvale hockey players Spook and Krinkle Davis and Darin Mansell. The defence will feature rookie Cory "Pilz" Thompson and Cal "Igor" Patience. Up front the forward lines will feature a lot of speed and finesse with the exception of Lethbridge and Chudy. Mike Korchinski, Lyle Lofgren, Kevin Maynard, Bobby "Little Man" Graham, Harley "Baldie" Eagle and Glen "Skippy" Haugen round out the line-up. Jason Moran will tend goal, he has been honing his reflexes by fishing. The coach will be none other than Shane "Shaneomac" Connell. He's not much of a coach as the Blackhawks are uncoachable, but he will be dressed appropriately. The Blackhawks have a difficult schedule as they will play Marion's Boys for the Green Street Cup, avenge last year's loss to Lowe's Rocks, battle the aging but difficult Kanooks and finally compete with the young and restless Kritzers Bantams. All the action is at the Whitney Forum Friday through Sunday, July 30 - August 1, 2004. All are welcome to attend.
