Hockey
Hockey in Springhill has a very rich history, and has come a long way from illegal games on the dugout or lagoon on shoes, to organized and coached hockey on an awesome, brand new rink.
Around 1985 to 1990, when people first became interested in the sport of hockey, it was illegal, remembers Paul Hofer. “It was so illegal that you had to hide you skates and stick so well… and if it was found, you did not have it anymore. And you sometimes had to hide your skates outside and when you took them the next day… it was not very nice.” At first the hockey was played on shoes on the creek or the road. After that they started to play hockey on the dugout or on the lagoon. “The manure on the rink gave it a good grippy feel which made running on ice lot better.” Then it was played on the dugout, where there was an unsafe air hole. “It was very unsafe!” They scraped the ice with shovels and put on bales for board and played hockey. Johnny was the first person to skate or to have skates. “It was a pretty incredible moment for Springhill!” says Paul. “It was like “skates”… WOW! Because nobody had skates. The fact that Johnny’s skates were just flimsy, old and dull skated from the 1950s didn’t really matter.”
In the 1990’s, the sport of hockey was beginning to be tolerated but still not completely legal. In 1992, the first rink was set up in the garden, made of doubled two- by- six planks all around. But this rink was only temporary, because it was on the gardens property. At that time, there were very few players and not enough equipment for goalies so they had to make hole in ply woods and stick them in the net. Paul, one true proponent of hockey in Springhill remembers, “I remember that the ground level was not very even. It was higher on some ends then on others, and we did not really dare to fix it because it was a garden.” Soon, this rink got sort of out of style.
Around 1993 to 1994, the colony decided to set up a new rink and allow hockey to be played legally in Springhill. A rink was set up on the south side of the ancient goose barn (which by now was pig barn).This hockey rink lasted for approximately 3 years. Some hockey equipment was issued to the players, but other equipment still had to be bought “with your own money”. Also, after a period of time goalies got the equipment to play, Paul and Larry Wollmann, the first goalies eventually were replaced by Johnny Hofer and David Wollmann. Our High School teacher, Mr. Wollmann, recalls, “Before there were goalies… we just had net that were not even a foot high and about 3 feet wide. They were made of wood, which did not really last that long. Then we made nets completely made of steel, so when you scored, it made a heck of a racket. You knew when you scored, it was pretty cool!”
When construction began on the chicken barn just beside the hockey rink, the rink was wrecked. In 1997, a temporary railroad tile rink just on the west side of the Pallet Shop just for one year.
The next year, in 1998 to 1999, the colony decided that they will build a rink, which was supposed to be the “best” rink ever. This new rink had 4 and 8 foot boards and had round corners.
New Fabulous Additions: Light and a hockey hut
One year after the rink was built the colony issued rink lights to be set up so that hockey could be played at night. Until this time, hockey was usually played during noon hour, on weekdays, afternoons from 3 to 6 on Saturdays. With lights, hockey was being played in the evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. That year we also got a hockey hut, which served as less our locker room. Before that, players dressed at home and just walked back to the rink, in full gear. Another fabulous addition to Springhill hockey was new uniforms, which made hockey look and feel even more “professional.” This rink stood and served a good purpose for about 9 years, until it was decided that the old rink was just too worn out to play hockey on.
Years passed and it was just pushed off and we were getting more and more impatient. Finally, in 2006, it was decided that we could wreck the old rink and build a new one. It was supposed to be the best hockey rink ever set up outside with cemented form, puck board, everything. The plan seemed to be just perfect. Nail by nail, screw by screw we anxiously took the old rink apart. Until the old rink was finally gone, we couldn’t wait until the rink was finished.
Construction of the new rink included hammering 350 posts by hand, which were used to build the cement footing. Slick puck-board in yellow, blue, and white, makes it look very professional. The balcony allows the fans to stand high and have a very good view of the hockey game. The players benches also organizes the hockey for the players. The only thing that is missing from the new hockey rink area few more lights, “Yah we kinda need new lighting.” stated one of the hockey players, getting ready for another good game of hockey.
Hockey has always been a huge part of Springhill, dating back to even before the colony was formed; people were always into hockey. Hockey will always be a proud part of Springhill.
“On the colony, it might have been sport that was illegal… but now it is and will always be the best and the most respected sport in the world (to us).”
Kelsey Wollmann
