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OCTOBER 3, 2014
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Vol. 63, Issue 191
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Cranbrook’s mythical, multi-generational NHL team Anthony Dransfeld ‘recruits’ local NHL alumni, ‘Head Coach’ Tom Renney organizes them into lines
ANTHONY DRANSFELD
I
t may include a few generations, but google search revealed something truly remarkable about Cranbrook. I was surprised to see a complete NHL hockey team — nine forwards (three lines), six defencemen, and three goaltenders — who
knew? The hockey players include: Frank Spring, Dan Spring, Corey Spring, Bob Murdoch, Don Murdoch, Greg Andrusak, Jason Marshall, Ryan Huska, Rob Niedermayer, Glen Cochrane, Steve Yzerman, Brad Lukowich, Ray Allison, Jon
Klemm, Ted McAneeley, and Scott Niedermayer. This group totalled 7,380 regular season NHL games, scored 1,428 goals and 2,584 assists for 4,012 points. Two are in the Hockey Hall Of Fame — Scott Niedermayer and Steve Yzerman (who cut his hockey teeth at
the Cranbrook Arena playing Minor Hockey, until his dad was transferred to Ottawa). Stevie Y was born at the old Cranbrook Hospital (which became the Tudor house, demolished by fire years ago), and the Yzerman family lived in a townhouse right behind the Green Clinic, where Dr.
Bob Niedermayer practiced medicine for so many years. Cranbrook got their hockey mojo in the mid-1960s, when the Cranbrook Royals were formed to play in the Western International Hockey League. Many of those Senior A hockey players went on to coach Cranbrook
Minor Hockey when they had retired from the Royals. Fellows like Frank Spring Jr., Marvin Ferg, Pud Downey, Wayne Doll. Colin Patterson from the Kimberley Dynamiters began mentoring the Cranbrook Colts.
See MYTHICAL, Page 4
Gaming event aims to help Children’s Hospital TRE VOR CR AWLEY Townsman Staff
Sometimes those extra lives come in handy when you’re in the middle of a game session. A group of local gaming enthusiasts are using their hobby as a unique way to fundraise for the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. For a $10 entry fee, anyone can come down to the Eagles Hall in Cranbrook on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. and game on their favourite video game platform, board game, or card games—from the traditional poker and blackjack to others such as Risk, Settlers of Catan and Dungeons and Dragons. The event—Extra Life—is the brainchild of Jeff Johnson, Dave Miller and Erin Schulz. Miller’s son, Alexander, required a heart transplant in 2005 and received one through the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Miller has participated in Extra Life fundraisers over the years, and teamed up with Johnson and Schulz to organize a local event this year.
See GAMING , Page 5
ARNE PETRYSHEN PHOTO
The Cranbrook Boy and Girls Club has a new playhouse for their outdoor enclosure play area. The playhouse was donated by Maureen Frank, which was in turn given to her from Frank Everett. Frank said interestingly that the playhouse was built by Shelley and John Balfour for their daughters Emily and Mallory. The playhouse was towed and lifted into location by EFM Towing.
Cranbrook mothers mark World Breastfeeding Week TO W N S M A N S TA F F
As Canada celebrates World Breastfeeding Week from Oct. 1-7, Cranbrook mothers are encouraged to take part in the Cranbrook/Kimberley Breastfeeding Challenge at Rotary Park on Saturday at 11 a.m. There will be plenty of door prizes to give away and along with a baby-wearing fashion show, all organized by Over the Rainbow Family Services.
This year’s theme for World Breastfeeding Week—Breastfeeding: a winning goal for life—recognizes the lifetime benefits to breastfeeding that benefit both mothers and babies. Breastfeeding provides infants with unique nutritional and health benefits such as antibodies and reduced risk for developing asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood
pressure. For the mother, breastfeeding helps the body recover from the stresses of pregnancy, labour and delivery. “Breastfeeding is natural, but not always easy,” said Patty Hallam, Knowledge Coordinator with Interior Health. “Learning to breastfeed and becoming comfortable with breastfeeding takes time. Support from a team of helpers that include family, friends, health-
care providers, and communities can make all the difference in building a woman’s confidence and comfort with her breastfeeding.” Public health nurses are available at at health units across Interior Health to assist with mothers and infants during the breastfeeding years to ensure that families have all the help needed for babies to get the best start in life.