Bruce was always game for a good prank. The coaches decided it would be a good idea for the players playing on the T-Birds Hockey 2 Team to gain additional experience playing against an “older women’s team” as part of the team’s year-end celebration of the season. The players were quite surprised to see their coaches and dads, dressed in drag, take the ice ready to play them. Bruce in his green dress stole the show.
Way back in 1991, with little if any skating experience back in Australia, Bruce invited me to try skating at the Thunderbird Arena. In my borrowed skates, I was very stiff and nervous on the ice and can still remember watching Mankee skating beautifully. Bruce grabbed a 4-legged chair and plonked it down in front of me on the ice. What was this for? To push around the rink! Well, I didn't know what to think. Surely someone would go mad at me for ruining a chair...? Keen to try, I started pushin g the chair on the ice and guess what...? (You already know...) All of a sudden I was able to skate with greater momentum and my confidence soared. I had so much fun, we didn't leave the rink until the Zamboni machine chased us off!
In the early ‘90s Bruce was invited to a family & friends summer barbeque. Later in the evening he decided the party goers must gather ‘round a backyard campfire. Never mind the fact that my next door neighbour at the time was a fireman and there wasn’t a fire pit or trash can in sight, “hey, no problem, your wheelbarrow will do” (and it did!). The festivities continued on long after I retired for the night, but like all events Bruce made memorable, the next day I discovered he went for a 3:0 0 am swim, climbing my back fence and jumping into the neighbour’s pool!
The Vancouver TBirds Midget A2 Team has many kids that were coached by Bruce or played with Zoe. The players and parents are very pleased to support the Scholarship Fund in memory of Bruce.
I am deeply saddened to hear about Bruce. A number of years ago, after a game of hockey, I inadvertently consumed too much alcohol and as unable to drive home to White Rock. While not even knowing me that well at the time, Bruce insisted that I sleep on his couch; then, he went out picked up pizzas for everyone. Later, I got to know Bruce well: he was such a good guy, always friendly, curious, and willing to help out others in need.