Once-familiar faces return for 25-year Allan Cup celebration

It’s recalled hearing about a pregame ceremony being planned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Truro TSN Bearcats winning the Allan Cup. We learned Sandy Mackenzie was the chief organizer and ‘elder hockey statesman’ Harold Barkhouse would return and resume his public address announcer duties.

Friday night, March 10, arrived at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre and, very likely, it was one of the best pre-game ceremonies many of us have ever attended.

With Truro Bearcats scheduled to play Amherst Ramblers in a late-season Maritime Hockey League game – an extra-large turnout of fans numbered 1,720.

Let’s glance back to what took place April 7-11, 1998, when the TSN Bearcats hosted the four-team national senior hockey championship at the Colchester Legion Stadium. The four contenders were the Powell River Regals, London Macmaster Chev Admirals, Iles Des Chenes North Stars and the TSN Bearcats.

The championship game was played before an estimated crowd of 2,800 fans, standing room only. Local fan-favourite Sandy Mackenzie scored two goals, goaltender Jason White played brilliantly, and the entire TSN Bearcats team stepped up to play perhaps the game of

their careers - in defeating London Admirals 6-1 to win the Allan Cup.

Fast forward to the recent celebration – as Barkhouse handled the announcing once familiar faces began making their way out onto the ice surface. Included were Kevin Macrae, White, Kelly Kolke, Dwight Lucas, Mackenzie, Barry Harrietha, Tom Beaton, Darren Welsh and Ryan Isenor, the large crowd cheered each player. It was the same for Brian Melanson, Rodney Macintosh, Gary Thomas, Craig Booker, and Reggie Bowes.

Richard Mackenzie, an assistant coach with the Allan Cup champion TSN Bearcats and now a junior A Bearcats' assistant coach, was applauded as he watched proceedings from his team’s bench. Making their way to the ice surface – Bearcats’ owner Stu Rath, general managers Jim Foley and Larry Anthony and medical trainer Kelly Johnson each received applause from the large crowd.

Next, a ‘closeup’ with a few of

the once familiar faces.

Brian Melanson: Age 56, Dartmouth, Principal of Alderney Elementary School, a teacher for 30 years. The team captain and star defenceman played four seasons with Truro after playing for the Dartmouth Moosehead Mounties and Dalhousie Tigers.

“The celebration was so well done,” Melanson said. “The professionalism, how it was all conducted, it was really something. Truro is a pretty special community; it was a really special night. Winning a Canadian championship was a big thing, getting to play on an Allan Cup champion with Truro is something I’ll never forget.”

Melanson noted that aside from the hockey on the ice, the friendships were precious.

“I’ll always cherish these friendships; they’ll last for a lifetime,” he said.

After the Allan Cup win, Melanson became involved with Dragon Boating. Attending three world championships, he won a gold medal in Australia

with the Canadian Senior Dragon Boating Team.

Rodney Macintosh: 55, grew up in Port Morien, Cape Breton and now lives in Rockingham. His career includes 35 years with Air Canada. An outstanding left-winger, he played nine seasons with Truro.

“I’m shocked, 25 years went by so quickly,” Macintosh said.

“It was so great to see all the guys, they were such a great group. We got scoring from every line and from our defence as well.”

Macintosh described the fans as being incredible.

“I remember we had a light skate the afternoon of our championship Allan Cup game,” he said. “We had like 500 people come out and watch. Yes, we had great fan support, and Stu Rath and the management were incredible. It was first class playing with the TSN Bearcats.”

Gary Thomas, 57, Cole Harbour. Returned recently to Nova Scotia after working for 20 years on the oil rigs in

Alberta. A strong two-way right-winger, Thomas suited up three seasons with Truro, after playing with Lakeland Warriors in Florida and Dartmouth Moosehead Mounties. Following playing with Truro, he played two seasons with the Unity Miners in Saskatchewan.

When Barkhouse announced Thomas to the audience, in part the colourful announcer said, “Gary Thomas was both the author and the narrator of the three S’s which appear on the team’s championship rings – standing for ‘Sweat + Sacrifice = Success.’”

When Sandy Mackenzie spoke, he too mentioned the three S’s and credited Thomas.

“That gave me a really great feeling,” Thomas said. “That was definitely one of my highlights of the night when Harold and Sandy said those nice things.”

Thomas was asked how he would remember the occasion.

“I’ll remember it as a terrific night; it’s a celebration I’ll always remember. I thought it was quite a thing that they flew the Allan Cup down from Toronto for the 25-year anniversary celebration. Thank you, Truro.”

As great and exciting as the night was, it should be mentioned - Truro TSN Bearcats event organizers reverently acknowledging the passing of teammate Randy Macneil and equipment manager John Thoms. A definite reminder of the difficult things in life we can face over a period of 25 years.

Worth Repeating is a weekly column touching on stories from the past, life experiences and events from the present day. If you have a column idea, contact Lyle at 902 673-2857.